Investigation of factors which influence parental involvement in some high schools
Date
2014-04-03
Authors
Sithole, Wilfred Gcina
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Abstract
Parental involvement in schools has been documented to have a positive influence on the education
of children . There is also evidence which suggests that parents of secondary school learners are
less involved in education than those of primary school learners . South African parents have
recently been given a greater say in education . This study investigated the extent of parental
involvement in some high schools , identified factors which have a positive and negative influence
on parental involvement and investigated the possibility of improving the extent of parental
involvement in order to facilitate the learning of high school learners . The sample consisted of 368
parents of learners who attended three public , co-educational Johannesburg high schools . The
overall findings obtained through a specially devised Parent Questionnaire showed that attributes
of sex and parents’ home language were more closely associated with various aspects and degrees
of parental involvement than were attributes of employment , educational level, and parents’
marital status . In order to increase parental involvement in education , it was suggested that
school- -i-ould convcne meetings in a manner that would cater for most parents ; teachers should
help parent? vith ways of supporting their children’s academic work and more importantly, it was
suggested parents need education and advocacy which would make them more effective
participants in education