PTA Training Manual for South Sudan

The manual is designed to enhance the capacities of PTAs to effectively perform their roles and responsibilities, equip them with knowledge and skills to differentiate between their roles and the responsibilities of the School Management Committee (SMC) and Board of Governors (BOG), and promote basic understanding of factors affecting participation of girls, disadvantaged children and children with disabilities in education. The objectives of the training manual include enhancing PTA capacities to identify hazards that could impact on the continuation of learning and to develop a school emergency preparedness plan. The manual also aims to equip PTAs with skills in resource mobilization and raising financial and non-financial resources for school improvement, and to promote basic understanding of community participation in education and implement appropriate educational advocacy actions that promote access to education programs, retention and school attendance at different levels. The manual is divided into several sections, each containing a session, objectives, learning outcomes, time, materials, steps, and activities. The sessions cover topics such as school governing bodies, PTA-school relationships, PTA executive committee, women's participation in the PTA, community participation, gender and social inclusion in education, barriers to girls' and boys' participation in education, and physically safe and healthy learning environment. The manual provides a framework for conducting the training, including suggestions for seating arrangement, ground rules, and adult learning participatory methodologies such as group discussion, brainstorming, storytelling, and role play. The manual also emphasizes the importance of using the language most participants would understand in the training session to enhance a participatory approach. The training manual is expected to be used by PTAs, parents, and communities at large to harness the resources available in their communities that can be used to promote and improve education service delivery. The manual is a product of a joint undertaking by MoEST and the RtL project, and is intended to be a useful tool for PTAs to provide training that is better harmonized and standardized, and meets the minimum standards required by MoEST. The manual has been developed in partnership with various stakeholders, including MoEST, FHI 360, Plan International, and Winrock International. The development of the manual has involved a collaborative effort between these stakeholders, and has been guided by the objectives of enhancing PTA capacities, equipping PTAs with knowledge and skills, and promoting basic understanding of factors affecting participation of girls, disadvantaged children and children with disabilities in education. The manual is expected to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Back to Learning Campaign and the Capitation Grants programs, which aim to expand children's access to quality primary education and enhance their chances of staying and succeeding in school. The manual is also expected to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the RtL project, which aims to improve education service delivery in South Sudan. The manual is expected to be a useful tool for PTAs, parents, and communities at large to promote and improve education service delivery in South Sudan. The manual is a product of a joint undertaking by MoEST and the RtL project, and is intended to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Back to Learning Campaign and the Capitation Grants programs.