Sustaining school-community partnership through effective communication
Abstract
This article investigates the impact of effective communication towards sustaining
school-community partnerships. Motivating the study is the argument that studies
on school-community partnerships within a South African context have been
limited to parental involvement only. Moreover, those who have broadened this
concept have seldom focused on the role of effective communication. The results
revealed a direct relationship between success in sustaining school-community
partnerships and effective communication. Two partnerships were studied and the
results revealed a lack of effective communication. This has negatively affected the
partners’ commitment in the partnerships’ activities, empowerment of partners,
mapping of assets and perceptions of partners about partnerships. However, in
some instances effective communication was identified and it contributed positively
in ensuring support for teams and individuals in the partnerships. It is concluded
that effective communication is the pillar in ensuring that different partners’
interests and capabilities are understood and utilised in these partnerships.
The study further recommends strategies to improve communication in schoolcommunity
partnerships.