Sustaining school-community partnerships 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.