THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTS’ COLLABORATIVE PARTICIPATION ON EFFECTIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION IN THE SOUTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON
Academic journal cover titled “International Journal of Developmental Issues in Education and Humanities (IJDIEH),” Volume 2, Issue 2 (March–April 2026), with a modern blue abstract wave background, publication details, and an open access indicator.
PDF

Keywords

Shared decision making
parents’ collaborative participation
effective secondary school administration
South West Region of Cameroon

How to Cite

Tambeagbor Heritah Taku, T. H. T. (2026). THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTS’ COLLABORATIVE PARTICIPATION ON EFFECTIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION IN THE SOUTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON. International Journal of Developmental Issues in Education and Humanities, 2(2), 01-40. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19855855

Share

Abstract

This study examines the influence of parents’ collaborative participation on effective secondary school administration in the South West Region of Cameroon. The mixed-methods research approach specifically using the concurrent research design. Questionnaires and an interview guide were the instruments used for the study. The questionnaire was for parents, students and community members and an interview guide for principals. The sample population for the study was made up of 100 participants. The study employed both probability and non-probability sampling approaches to come out with the sample in phases. Data from the questioners were analyzed using SPSS 23.0, with the aid of descriptive and inferential statistical tools while the interviews were analyzed thematically. The Spearman’s rho was used to test the research hypotheses formulated in the study. Findings showed that the positive sign of the correlation value implies that continues parents’ collaborative participation in decision making will contribute significantly to effective school administration and this is supported with an explanatory power of 77.9% (Nagelkerke statistics= 0. 77.9). Therefore, it was generally recommended that to enhance effective secondary school administration in the South West Region, it is essential to formalize and institutionalize inclusive decision-making structures that actively engage teachers, parents, students, and community members. School leaders should implement regular forums and workshops that facilitate open communication, foster trust, and encourage collaborative input from all stakeholders.

PDF

References

Abiona, I., Adekeye, N., & Bello, W. N. (2013). Grassroots participation in decision-making process and development programmes as correlate of sustainability of community development programmes in Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development, 6(3), 47–57.

Adeleke, I. O. (2000). Administration of higher education. Sunray Press.

Adger, C. T. (2001). School–community-based organization partnerships for language minority students’ school success. Journal of Education for Students Placed At Risk, 6, 7–25. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327671ESPR0601_2

Algoush, K. S. (2010). Assessment of the relationship between involvement in the decision-making process and teachers’ job satisfaction. Open University, Malaysia.

Amin, M. E. (2005). Social science research: Conception, methodology and analysis. Makerere University Press.

Anderson-Butcher, D., Lawson, H. A., Bean, J., Flaspohler, P., Boone, B., & Kwiatkowski, A. (2008). Community collaboration to improve school: Introducing a new model from Ohio. Children & Schools, 30, 161–172. https://doi.org/10.1093/cs/30.3.161

Astor, A., Guerra, N., & Van Acker, R. (2010). How can we improve school safety research? Educational Researcher, 39(1), 69–78. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X10363511

Bacharach, S. B., Bamberger, P., Conley, S. C., & Bauer, S. (1990). The dimensionality of decision participation in educational organizations: The value of a multi-domain evaluative approach. Educational Administration Quarterly, 26, 126–167.

Bachelor, R. (1980). Human relations or human resources. In R. S. Dwivedi (Ed.), Manpower management: An integrated approach to personnel management and labour relations (pp. 1–10). Prentice Hall.

Bademo, Y., & Tefera, B. F. (2016). Assessing the desired and actual levels of teachers’ participation in decision making in secondary schools of Ethiopia. Educational Research and Reviews, 11(13), 1236–1242. https://doi.org/10.5897/ERR2016.2750

Baker, D. P., & LeTendre, G. K. (2019). National differences, global connections: Conceptual frameworks for comparative education. Stanford University Press.

Baker, D. P., & Soden, R. (1998). The role of parent involvement in students' academic achievement. Educational Researcher, 27(4), 9–17.

Banks, J. A. (2015). Multicultural education: Issues and perspectives (9th ed.). Wiley.

Barth, R. S. (2001). Teacher leader. Phi Delta Kappan, 82(6), 443–449.

Bass, B. M., & Avolio, B. J. (1994). Improving organizational effectiveness through transformational leadership. Sage Publications.

Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational leadership (2nd ed.). Psychology Press.

Beach, D. M., & Reinhartz, J. (2000). Supervisory leadership: Focus on instruction. Allyn and Bacon.

Ben-Peretz, M. (1994). Teachers as curriculum makers (2nd ed.). The International Encyclopaedia of Education, 10, 6089–6092.

Bertalanffy, K. L. von. (1968). General system theory: Foundations, development, applications. George Braziller.

Blanchard, K., Hybels, B., & Hodges, P. (1999). Leadership by the book. William Morrow.

Blank, M., Jacobson, R., & Melaville, A. (2012). Achieving results through community school partnerships: How district and community leaders are building effective, sustainable relationships. Center for American Progress.

Blasé, J., & Blasé, J. (2000). Principals’ perspectives on shared governance leadership. Journal of School Leadership, 10(1), 9–39. https://doi.org/10.1177/105268460001000102

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (1994). Looking for leadership: Another search party's report. Educational Administration Quarterly, 30(1), 77–96. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X9430001006

Boyan, N. J. (1988). Describing and explaining administrative behavior. In N. J. Boyan (Ed.), Handbook of research on educational administration (pp. 1–14). Longman.

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Harvard University Press.

Bryk, A. S., & Schneider, B. L. (2002). Trust in schools: A core resource for improvement. Russell Sage Foundation.

Bryk, A. S., Sebring, P. B., Allensworth, E., Luppescu, S., & Easton, J. Q. (2010). Organizing schools for improvement: Lessons from Chicago. University of Chicago Press.

Burrello, L., Hoffman, L., & Murray, L. (2005). School leaders building capacity from within. Corwin Press.

Bush, T. (2011). Theories of educational leadership and management. SAGE Publications.

Bush, T., & Heystek, J. (2003). School governance in South Africa. Compare, 33(2), 127–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057920302550

Caldwell, B. (2008). Hayek's challenge. University of Chicago Press.

Caldwell, B. J., & Spinks, J. M. (1992). Leading the self-managing school. The Falmer Press.

Carl, A. (1995). The “voice of the teacher” in curriculum development: A voice crying in the wilderness? South African Journal of Education, 25(4), 223–228. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v25n4a557

Chavkin, N. F., & Williams, D. L. (2015). Family engagement in the digital age: Tools to strengthen your family-school partnership. Harvard Education Press.

Chen, Y. F., & Tjosvold, D. (2006). Participative leadership by American and Chinese managers in China: The role of relationships. Journal of Management Studies, 43(8), 1727–1752. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6486.2006.00643.x

Cheng, Y. C., & Cheung, W. M. (2003). Profiles of multi-level self-management in schools. International Journal of Educational Management, 17(3), 100–115. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513540310468668

Chinelo, D. O. (2007). Students’ and teachers’ participation in decision making: Impact on attitude to school work in Warri South LGA of Delta State. An International Multi-Disciplinary Journal, Ethiopia, 5(2), 54–64. https://doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v5i2.55496

Conley, S. (1991). Review of research on teacher participation in school decision making. Review of Research in Education, 17(1), 225–266. https://doi.org/10.3102/0091732X017001225

Conley, S. C., Schmidle, T., & Shedd, J. B. (1988). Teacher participation in the management of school systems. Teachers College Record, 90, 259–280. https://doi.org/10.1177/016146818809000302

Conway, J. (1984). The myth, mystery, and mastery of participative decision making in education. Educational Administration Quarterly, 20, 11–40. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X8402001002

Cook-Sather, A. (2006). Sound, presence, and power: “Student voice” in educational research and reform. Curriculum Inquiry, 36(4), 359–390. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-3870.2006.00356.x

Crum, K. S., Sherman, W. H., & Myran, S. (2009). Best practices of successful elementary school leaders. Journal of Educational Administration, 48(1), 48–63. https://doi.org/10.1108/09578231011015412

Darling-Hammond, L. (2000). Teacher quality and student achievement: A review of state policy evidence. Educational Policy Analysis Archives, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v8n1.2000

Davies, B., & Davies, B. (2006). Developing a model for strategic leadership in schools. Educational Management Administration Leadership, 34(1), 121–139. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143206059542

Dempsey, D. (2020). The role of parents in school policy development. Journal of Educational Administration, 58(2), 123–145. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-04-2019-0055

Doran, C. F. (1999). Why forecasts fail: The limits and potential of forecasting in international relations and economics. International Studies Review, 1(2), 11–41. https://doi.org/10.1111/1521-9488.00002

Dudouet, V., & Lundström, S. (2016). Post-war political settlements: From participatory transition processes to inclusive state-building and governance. Berghof Foundation. Available

DuFour, R. (2004). What is a professional learning community? Educational Leadership, 61(8), 6–11.

Duke, K. E. (2005). Principals’ practices regarding teacher participation in school decision making. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Dwivedi, R. S. (1988). Dynamics of human behaviour at work. Oxford Publishing Ltd.

Earthman, G. I. (2004). Prioritizing capital investment in schools. American Educational Research Association.

Elmore, R. F. (2000). Building a new structure for school leadership. Albert Shanker Institute.

Elmore, R. F. (2004). School reform from the inside out: Policy, practice, and performance. Harvard Education Press.

Epstein, J. L. (2018). School, family, and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools (3rd ed.). Routledge.

Fonkeng, E. G., & Tamajong, E. V. (2009). Secondary school administration and principalship (2nd ed.). Presses Universitaires d’Afrique.

Fullan, M. (2001). Leading in a culture of change. Jossey-Bass.

Fullan, M. (2002a). The change leader. Educational Leadership, 59(8), 16–20.

Fullan, M. (2002b). The Jossey-Bass reader on educational leadership. Jossey-Bass.

Fullan, M. (2007). The new meaning of educational change. Teachers College Press.

Fullan, M. (2016). The new meaning of educational change. Routledge.

Furco, A. (2013). Legitimizing community engagement with K–12 schools. Peabody Journal of Education, 88(5), 622–636. https://doi.org/10.1080/0161956X.2013.835180

Gardian, A., & Rathore, H. C. (2010). Teacher participation in the decision-making process: Reality and repercussions in Indian higher education. Kamacha, Varanasi, India, 40(5), 657–671.

Garmston, R., & Wellman, B. (2013). The adaptive school: A sourcebook for developing collaborative groups. Christopher-Gordon.

Glickman, C. D. (2002). Leadership for learning: How to help teachers succeed. Corwin Press.

Glickman, C. D. (2015). Leading dynamic schools: How to create change in your school. Corwin Press.

Goddard, R. D., Hoy, W. K., & Woolfolk Hoy, A. (2007). Collective efficacy beliefs: The role of trust and respect. Journal of Educational Administration, 45(3), 331–344. https://doi.org/10.1108/09578230710748413

Griffin, G. A. (1995). Influence of shared decision making on school and classroom activity: Conversations with five teachers. Elementary School Journal, 96, 29–45. https://doi.org/10.1086/461846

Hargreaves, A. (2001). The emotional geographies of teaching. Teachers College Record, 103(6), 1056–1080.

achievement. Developmental Psychology, 45(3), 740–763. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015362

Hogan, R., Curphy, G. J., & Hogan, J. (1999). What we know about leadership: Effectiveness and personality. In L. Orozco (Ed.), Educational leadership. Bellevue, WA: CourseWise.

Keung, C. C. (2008). Management practices for promoting shared decision making. The Hong Kong Institute of Education.

Kirby, M. M., & DiPoala, M. F. (2011). Academic optimism and community engagement in urban schools. Journal of Educational Administration, 49(5), 542–562. https://doi.org/10.1108/09578231111112536

Kozleski, E. B., & Smith, A. (2009). The complexities of systems change in creating equity for students with disabilities in urban schools. Urban Education, 44(4), 427–451. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085908329665

Leithwood, K., & Riehl, C. (2003). What we know about successful school leadership. National College for School Leadership.

Leithwood, K., Anderson, S., Mascall, B., & Straus, T. (2010). School leaders’ influences on student learning: The four paths. In T. Bush, L. Bell, & D. Middlewood (Eds.), The principles of educational leadership and management (pp. 33–39). London: Sage.

Leithwood, K., Day, C., Sammons, P., Harris, A., & Hopkins, D. (2006). Successful school leadership: What it is and how it influences pupil learning. DfES Publications.

Mbua, F. N. (2003). Educational administration: Theory and practice. Presprint.

Mosoge, M. J., & Van der Westhuizen, P. C. (1998). School-based management: Implications for the new roles of principals and teachers. Koers, 63(1), 73–87. https://doi.org/10.4102/koers.v63i1.537

Mualuko, N. J., Simiyu, A. M., & Achoka, S. K. J. (2009). Improving decision making in schools through teacher participation. Educational Research and Review, 4(8), 391–397. https://academicjournals.org/journal/ERR/article-full-text-pdf/490E1124144

Phillips, D., Bhojedat, J., Phillips, S., Henry, C., & Stewart-Fox, T. (2024). Exploring the readiness of schools for distributed leadership: Perspectives of private school teachers in Guyana. Creative Education, 15, 249–277. https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2024.152020

Pounder, D. G. (1997). Teacher teams: Promoting teacher involvement and leadership in secondary schools. High School Journal, 80, 117–124. https://doi.org/10.1353/hsj.1997.0008

Spillane, J. P. (2006). Distributed leadership. The Educational Forum, 70(3), 223–236. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131720608995912

Spillane, J. P., Halverson, R., & Diamond, J. B. (2004). Towards a theory of leadership practice: A distributed perspective. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 36(1), 3–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/0022027032000106726

UNESCO. (2005). Teacher involvement in educational change. Regional Bureau of Education for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Visscher, A. J., & Moolenaar, N. (2015). Leadership and decision-making in education. Educational Administration Quarterly, 51(4), 546-580.

Wenger, E. (2000). Communities of practice and social learning systems. Organization, 7(2), 225–246. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508400722004

Williamson, R., & Blackburn, B. (2018). Collaborating through shared decision making. MiddleWeb Smart Brief. USA.

Ylimaki, R., & Jacobson, S. (2013). School leadership practice and preparation. Journal of Educational Administration, 51(1), 6–23. https://doi.org/10.1108/09578231311291404

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.