An assessment of the relationship between parental involvementand students’ academic achievement in second cycle primary schools of mareka woreda, dawuro zone, snnprs

Abstract

The major objective of this study was to assess the relationship between parental involvement and students’ academic achievement in second cycle primary schools of Mareka Woreda in Dawuro Zone, SNNPRS. The study employed Correlation research design. Both explanatory and prediction correlation designs were employed in this study. The study also employed Mixed research method. In order to obtain relevant data for the study, both quantitative and qualitative research method was used, with the assumption that it helps a researcher used more quantitative and few qualitative approaches. That means collection of quantitative data followed by collection of qualitative data concurrently, For this study, 110 teachers, 236 students, 236 parents and 10 principals were selected for the study. Totally, 592 (28.2%) of respondents were participated in this study. For teachers and students simple random sampling technique especially lottery method was used. Purposive sampling technique method was used for principals and selected students‘ parents. The data were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics including percentage, mean, standard deviation, person correlation and inferential statistics one way ANOVA and Linear Regression. The findings revealed that parental involvement that were socioeconomic related factors, parental support and expectations, parent-school relationships, self-concept of students, parents-school communication and school related factor significantly and positively predicted students’ academic achievements. The findings showed that, Parents did not motivate students to attend school regularly, did not fulfill necessary materials for their children, and parents did not give moral support to students. The majority of the respondents agreed on parents’ low expectation about their children’s academic achievement, Parents did not ask teachers their children academic result, Parent did not often visit school to work-with and shape misbehavior of their children, which implies poor parentalschool interaction. Based on the findings the following conclusion was forwarded; These results were reliable with earlier research which displayed the need to count on parents in the learning vision of their children, and their participation takes positive sound effects on their children’s learning. The schools have to seek the support from the community members to grow excellence programs for parents, school, and community. On the other hand the participants’ responds showed that the school current program for parents-school interaction has many defects which need to be reformed to bring more attention to parents’ involvement topic and to be able to attract them for more involvement. Parents’ positive attitude towards children’s education and their involvement will play significant role in students’ academic achievement. Based on the findings and the conclusion drawn the following recommendations were forwarded; the schools should work cooperatively with woreda education office to promote parental involvement. Parent-teacher-students association (PTSA) with schools better to have clearly addressed plan for parental involvement to promote parents participation on school activities and issues of students’ learning outcomes. School principals’ are advised to take actions to increase parental involvement in their children’s learning,