New Horizons

Abstract

The study tries to find out ways and means to effect channels of communication in schools as perceived by principals. The Delphi Technique was employed using three rounds of questionnaires which required specific answers from a panel of respondents. The questionnaire participants were a sample of 82 principals of local aided secondary schools.

In this study, communication in schools is divided into five parts:

Between

A. Management Committee and Staff B. School (Principal and Faculty) and Students C. Principal and Teaching Staff D. School and Parents E. School and Community

A list of itemized suggested ways and means for each of the five parts was prepared by the investigator from literature search and personal experience. These items formed the main inputs of the first Delphi Questionnaire which was then mailed to a panel of respondents. Responses to Questionnaire I were analysed and items were revised accordingly to form Questionnaire II. This second Delphi Questionnaire together with the statistical summary and the comments and remarks given in Round 1 were sent to the original group of respondents. Likewise, the same steps were repeated in the third round. After three rounds 'consensus' opinion was obtained from the respondents. The mode answer equal to or greater than 55% was taken as consensus.

67 items were identified as important, desirable and feasible ways and means. They were further labelled as useful and applicable in the initial stage of development of a school (I.S.), in day-to-day work (D.W.) and after a school is fully developed (A.F.). These items were presented in the form of a chart.

Another 33 items were also identified. However they were regarded as neither important, desirable nor feasible. Yet some of these items may be useful ways and means to effect channels of communication in schools. All the items in this category were also presented in the form of a chart.

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