The study aims at investigating the importance of parental involvement in the teaching
and learning of learners in their early years of schooling, especially in rural areas. The
researcher is of the opinion that many parents in rural areas are illiterate and poor. Their
disadvantages are therefore vast to their counterparts who live in urban areas. Parents
could become involved in several activities occurring at school which could provide
opportunities for them to be familiar with the school and at the same lime provide
opportunities for their children to get more support at school and home. There are
activities and responsibilities that parents can perform, which would help teachers to
achieve the required goals of teaching and learning within the school. ,
The literature reviewed in this study on parental involvement in teaching and learning of
learners at an early age, shows the awareness of both the rights and responsibilities of
parents in their children's education and the vital role that they can play in decision making
as well as behavioral change. A qualitative research approach was used in this
study. Questionnaires as well as focus group interviews were used as instruments for data
collection.
The most important findings of the study are as follows:
• Teachers and parents in rural areas lack knowledge about the importance of
parental involvement, in the learning as well as teaching of learners at an early
age.
• Special efforts should be made to involve parents of disadvantaged learners. Due
to poverty parents are often reluctant to become involved and deny the learners to
benefit from parental participation in their learning.
• Parent involvement programmes that include focus on parental involvement in
instruction, conducting learning activities with learners at home, assisting with
homework and so forth should be developed.
• Parental involvement requires to be planned and coordinated thoughtfully.
• Parents should be reminded time and again that their involvement and support
make a great difference in their children's school performance, and that they need
not be highly educated or have more free time for their involvement to be
beneficial.
• Parental involvement is a two-way communication process. / Thesis (M.Ed) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2010
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/15783 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Lebopa, Nicholas Maikanya |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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