CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Conflict has been recognized as an inevitable part of life. Interpersonal, intergroup and international conflicts have been documented throughout history. The study of conflict did not become a recognized area of study and scholarship until the middle of the 21st Century and the study in the area of conflict theory did occur much earlier (Deutsch, 1991)

There have been many different theoretical approaches to the study of conflict and again, there has been the consensus reached at on the definition of conflict. The approaches taken have usually reflected the academic discipline of theorists.

Psychologists have focused on the interpersonal conflict i.e. the growing child and the immediate care givers being the parents.

Social psychologists have concentrated on interpersonal and intergroup conflicts.

Sociologists have stressed on social role status and class conflicts i.e. between the learners and the teacher.

Economists have focused on the game theory and decision making, economic competition, labor negotiations and trade disputes.

Political scientists and international specialists have centered their work on political and international conflict (Deutsch, 1991, p 26).

Classical management theory views the presence of conflict as evidence of the failure by management to plan adequately or to exercise sufficient control (Owens, 1991).

Human relations theory viewed conflict as evidence of the failure to develop appropriate group norms (Owens, 1991).

To add, the researcher of interpersonal conflict between parents and teachers and their effect on student academic achievement, see conflict as a non academic tool which must be avoided either by the students, parents and teachers or else will hamper educational achievements. The researcher deliberately chooses to research on this topic because:

From his experience in secondary school, he saw a lot of problems caused by conflict between parent and teachers such as it demoralizes the student and hinders smooth learning.

Also, personal love for the topic and the aspects in the research topics such as conflict which he has come across so many times and still experiencing it, causes him to enjoy writing on this topic.

Finally, he chooses this topic because he, whose result has been an outcome of such a conflict during secondary school days, wishes that it should be avoided so as to help the students perform better in school.

Statement of the Problem

The school as an open social system is composed of people with diverse backgrounds, cultural status and values. Taking this into consideration, conflicts of all sorts are bound to occur. These conflicts between parents and teachers range from the Social, Financial, and Pedagogical view point. These aspects of conflicts may therefore strain relations between parents and teachers which might in tend affect the day-to-day functioning of the school thereby making it unstable.  This may therefore retard school progress on the part of the learners.

Looking at this therefore, the researcher intends to find out what maybe the effects of the conflicts between parents and teachers, the causes of such conflicts, trying to identify the different types of conflicts, the consequences/effects of such conflicts on students` academic output, and finally the measures which can be taken to resolve such conflicts as well as prevent them from occurring in the school setting.

General Objectives

This study sets out to investigate the effects of interpersonal conflicts between parents and teachers on students` academic achievements in secondary schools within the Buea Municipality.

Specific objectives

Specifically, the objectives of this research exercise are;

1. To identify the different types of conflict that exist in and outside the school as an open social system.
2. To find out the reasons for these interpersonal conflicts, especially between parents and teachers.
3. To find out the consequences of such interpersonal conflicts on students` academic output.
4. To find out measures that can be used to solve these interpersonal conflicts and also means of avoiding them, especially in the educational setup.

Check out: CST Project Topics with Materials