PARENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS (AMPAs)
There are Parents’ Associations at 82% of the schools in the survey. This high percentage reveals the consolidation of the parent association movement. As it is a body with its own initiative and promotion, which does not depend on external instances, its mere existence may be considered as an indicator of participation. AMPAs are associations created due to interest by the parents and sustained by their dedication and financing.
However, the real participation by the parents through the AMPAs is quite low: 35% declare they do not participate in them and 51% just pay the fees. Only 14% of the parents declare they participate actively. Apart from that, satisfaction with their functioning is not unanimous: 62% of the parents are very or fairly satisfied, as to 38%, they are scarcely or not satisfied with functioning of the Association to which they belong.
Some comparisons show significant data. For example, at religious schools, the existence of AMPAs is more generalised than at other kinds of schools. Participation in AMPAs is greater in the case of parents with higher education: 42% of them participate and 8% does so on the governing boards, percentages that are clearly above the average in one case and the other.
As a contrast to participation and satisfaction, it seems that parents who do not participate in the association tend to be little or not satisfied with its operation; those whose link is limited to paying the fees scarcely or fairly satisfied, while the management or active members state they are fairly or very satisfied with the functioning of the AMPA.