Parent perceptions and teacher perceptions / Rugiyya Nasira

Abstract

Parental involvement is one of the key indicators of student's academic achievement. It is also one of the challenges faced by teachers and schools while trying to produce the maximum benefit from children's schooling. Extensive research studies have shown that parents and schools have a shared responsibility in educating children and enhancing their school success. However, the findings lack meaningful insight to what constitutes effective parental involvement in the education of students. Moreover, most of the studies done were quantitative, which did not provide an in-depth reality of the topic. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of parents and teachers regarding effective parental involvement with secondary students.

The population of the study consisted of five teachers and five parents from a certain school from an island with appropriate access to education at all levels. The study was directed by a qualitative case study in the interpretivist research paradigm and data were collected through semi-structured interviews.

Findings of this study indicated that parents and teachers in the school have some similar views and some different views regarding effective parental involvement. Parents and teachers in this study shared similar perspectives of parental involvement and aspects of parental involvement. However, there were significant differences in the perceptions of parents and teachers, regarding what constitutes effective parental involvement in improving academic achievement of students. There were differences among the parents, on education level and attitude of parents, communicating with the school and maintaining a positive relationship between the school. Participants of this study identified communicating and parent's attitude and awareness as the most influencing factor on the level of parental involvement in the child's schooling.

In conclusion, findings have identified research implications and areas for further research that would inform effective parental involvement strategies and practices in schools of the Maldives.