Parental Participation in Children's Education: Experiences of Parents and Teachers in Ghana.

Abstract

The engenderment of children’s education requires the interplay of several factors with parental
\ninvolvement as a key ingredient in the educational experience. However, some parents’ participation in their
\nchildren’s education has been found to be low in both rural and urban communities alike. This has led to the loss of
\nthe positive effects attributed to parent’s participation in their children’s education. A qualitative research was
\ntherefore conducted with parents of pupils in the University of Ghana Basic School as well as the teachers of primary
\nclasses four, five and six, to interrogate factors that motivate and inhibit parents’ participation in children’s education.
\nParticipants were purposively sampled due to their experience and knowledge in issues related to parents’
\nparticipation and non-participation in their children’s education. Findings revealed that parents’ belief that their
\nparticipation in their children’s education is part of the training they are supposed to give them has motivated them to
\nparticipate. Barriers to parental participation in their children’s education include the high cost of living which keeps
\nparents preoccupied with economic ventures, and low self-esteem due to some parents’ illiteracy which makes them
\nfeel they cannot offer much besides paying their children’s school fees.