Analysis of community-based organisations effectiveness in promoting grassroots educational services in Greater Tzaneen Municipality, South Africa

Abstract

Community-based organisations (CBOs) play an integral role in promoting educational services, particularly to disadvantaged communities in rural areas. However, debatably, their effectiveness in delivering educational services is rarely known. Thus, the current study was undertaken to analyse the effectiveness of community-based organisations in providing educational services to the grassroots communities of Mosiphane village in Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality, South Africa. An exploratory sequential mixed method design was adopted in the study where qualitative data were collected first, and confirmatory quantitative data were collected last. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews using open-ended questionnaires, while quantitative data were collected through face-to-face interviews using closed-ended questionnaires. Thematic content analysis with the aid of Atlas ti version 8 was used to analyse qualitative data, whereas the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 was used to analyse quantitative data. The findings identified several approaches used by the CBO to facilitate grassroots educational services. Parental involvement, outreach programmes, and community involvement were the most common approaches used by Mosiphane community-based organisations. Lack of monitoring and evaluation systems, ineffective resource management and inadequate funding affected the community-based organisations in providing educational services in the study area. To address these community-based organisation establishing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems, improving resource management, advocating for increased funding, and fostering collaborations, capacity building, and community engagement to enhance their effectiveness in promoting grassroots educational services. The findings of this study are crucial in providing actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and community stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of grassroots educational initiatives.