The significance of parental involvement in early childhood learner development in Mafikeng rural school

Abstract

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.