EXPLORING THE ROLES AND CHALLENGES OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATIONS IN PROVINDING CARE AND SUPPORT TO VULNURABLE CHILDREN IN BAHIR DAR, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to explore the role and challenges of Parent Teacher Associations in Provision of Care and Support to Vulnerable children in Bahir Dar Town. Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) primarily established to improve the school environment for enabling environment of teaching-learning process. The number of orphan and vulnerable children as a result of urbanization, Sever poverty, and HIV/AIDS and other related illness affects the teaching- learning process and many of OVC’s drop out from school as a result of stigma, and luck of education materials (books, uniforms and other supplies) forces them to address the problem by establishing child protection committees. Few philanthropic Organizations work with Parent Teacher associations to solve the educational challenges of children’s in the town. Fourteen School PTA’s in Bahir Dar town have been supporting orphan and vulnerable children’s by contributing 3 % of their monthly salary in the form of AIDS fund and some technical and financial support of few Philanthropic organizations such as Organization for Social Service for AIDS (OSSA) to improve the quality of life of orphan and vulnerable children . This study employed a qualitative research method. Four School PTA’s were selected and data collected from them to explore their role and challenges that PTA’s have to address the care and support need of children’s until data is saturated and redundancy is reached. In each school PTA’s research participant was selected using purposive sampling method. Data gathering instruments included in-depth interview, focus group discussion, observation and secondary data review. Subjects of the study include orphan and vulnerable children care and support beneficiaries, PTA’s and child protection. The findings of the study indicated that PTA’s has significantly contributed to improve the well-being of orphan and vulnerable children and they provide education, psychosocial, life skill, health care, economic and health care support to children’s. But the problem is still challenging for them and the number of OVC’s need care and support is high as compared to their support. The activity of PTA’s is not well recognized by actors working of the welfare of children and their capacity is minimal to address the demanding needs of children’s. The study recommended for different child welfare organization and the government to build their capacity to strengthen their activity for sustainable orphan and vulnerable children.