Relationship between parental involvement in children's education and their academic performance in public primary schools in Dagoretti District, Kenya
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the parental involvement and its influence on academic performance of public primary school pupils in Dagoretti district. Four research questions guided that study. The study was based on descriptive survey method. The sample size consisted of 23 head teachers, 136 teachers and 370 pupils. The study used questionnaires for data collection. Three sets of questionnaires; one for head teachers, teachers and pupils. Findings revealed that that inputs of parents considered as parental involvement in the academic performance of their children. Showed that head teachers and teachers indicated that parental were involved in the education of their children in some aspects. A majority of the teachers, said the parents were interested with the education of their children. However there were cases where students absented themselves from school and parents did not come to school to explain. Parents did not sign their children report forms, while there were students who did not have the required study materials.
It was also revealed that that parents were not keen to following up their children's' education, it was also shown that majority also were of the opinion that parents in this school blame teachers for their children's failure. Head teachers also reported that parents in this school never participate in school affairs. Findings revealed that parental involvement affected students performance in the school. Teachers also reported that parental involvement in their children's education affected the performance of their children. Findings revealed that students perceived their parents as involved in their education which influenced their academic performance.
However the parents did not provide conducive learning environment at home for their children which affected their academic performance. Based on the findings, the study concluded that parents parental inputs such as coming to school to discuss the education progress of their children, interests in the education of their children we some of the inputs considered as parental involvement. Parents were not involved in other aspects such as marking students report forms. The study also concluded that parental background influenced their involvement in the education of their children. For instance, parental level of education was a determinant of their involvement in their children's education.
The parental level of education influenced their involvement in their children's education. Parents who were involved in their children's education encouraged their children to work hard, supported and supervised their children's education. Based on the findings, it was recommended that parents should be encouraged to participate fully in their children's education as it was a determinant in the performance of their children at school. It was also recommended that the school administration should educate the parents on the need of being fully involved in their children education so that they could speak in one voice with the school administration.
The study also recommended that schools should involve parents in decision making process on the school matters so that both the parents and the school administration can take up responsibility over the children. Based on the findings of this study it was suggested that a study on the effect of parental level of education and its influence of students' performance should be conducted. It was also suggested that a study on the relationship between parental level of education and the students' performance at KCPE exams be done, and finally a study to establish the effect of family background and students' academic performance should be conducted.
Publisher
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
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