Parental involvement in foundation phase : a case in Mafikeng, North West Province

Abstract

Parental involvement is a topic of discussion in schools because of the assumption that it improves learner performance. There is a problem of underperformance in schools which may be caused by lack of parental involvement in children’s education. Based on the above problem this research aims at exploring the teachers’ and parents’ perceptions and experiences of parental involvement at a school in North West Province. The researcher follows a qualitative approach adopting a case study design. Purposive sampling was used to sample 12 participants who were presumed to be knowledgeable of the issue of parental involvement. These participants included teachers and parents. Semi-structured questions were used for the face to face interviews. In addition to the interviews the researcher also used field notes jotted down during the visits to the participants. Documents used in parental involvement were also collected and used in this research. The findings reveal that teachers and parents believe that parental involvement is fruitful in that learners improve academically, behaviourally and attend school regularly. Schools communicate and invite parents concerning the academic issues of their children. Teachers give homework to learners and parents help them at home. Meetings are called by the school and parents attend. This research also found out that although teachers and parents work together there are loopholes in the process. Both teachers and parents are ignorant of the Department of Basic Education legislation and policies concerning parental involvement. Another hindrance is the lack of commitment by some teachers and parents thereby negatively affecting parental involvement. Some parents do not have time for their children. The study recommends that DBE needs to make awareness campaigns regarding parental involvement. It is suggested that schools must reach out to all parents and enhance parental involvement taking suggestions from the models described in this research.

Ukubandakanyeka kwabazali kuyisihloko okuxoxwa ngaso ezikoleni ngenxa yomcabango wokuthi kuthuthukisa ukusebenza kwabafundi. Kunenkinga yokungasebenzi kahle ezikoleni okungadalwa ukungabandakanyeki kwabazali emfundweni yezingane. Ngokuya ngenkinga engenhla lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuhlola imibono yothisha nabazali kanye nokuhlangenwe nakho kokubandakanyeka kwabazali esikoleni esifundazweni saseNyakatho Ntshonalanga. Umcwaningi ulandela indlela esezingeni elifanele esebenzisa ukwakheka kocwaningo lwamacala. Isampula elihlose ukusetshenziselwa ukusampula abahlanganyeli abayi-12 ababethathwa njengabanolwazi ngendaba yokubandakanyeka kwabazali. Laba bahlanganyeli bekukhona othisha nabazali. Imibuzo ehleleke kancane isetshenziselwe izingxoxo zobuso nobuso. Ngaphezu kwezingxoxo umcwaningi uphinde wasebenzisa amanothi enkambu abhalwe phansi ngesikhathi evakashela ababambiqhaza. Imibhalo esetshenziswe ekubandakanyeni kwabazali nayo yaqoqwa futhi yasetshenziswa kulolu cwaningo. Lokhu okutholakele kuveza ukuthi othisha nabazali bakholelwa ukuthi ukubamba iqhaza kwabazali kunezithelo ngoba abafundi bathuthuka ezifundweni zabo, baziphathe kahle futhi bafunde njalo esikoleni. Izikole ziyaxhumana futhi zimeme abazali maqondana nezinkinga zezemfundo zezingane zabo. Othisha banikeza abafundi umsebenzi wesikole kanti abazali bayabasiza emakhaya. Imihlangano iyabizwa yisikole kanti nabazali bayaya kuyo. Lolu cwaningo luphinde lwathola ukuthi yize othisha nabazali besebenzisana kukhona izikhala lapho kwenziwa khona lolu hlelo. Bobabili othisha nabazali abazi ngomthetho nezinqubomgomo zoMnyango Wezemfundo Eyisisekelo mayelana nokubandakanyeka kwabazali. Esinye isithiyo ukungazibophezeli kwabanye othisha nabazali okube nomthelela omubi ekubandakanyeni kwabazali. Abanye abazali abanaso isikhathi sezingane zabo. Ucwaningo luncoma ukuthi i-DBE idinga ukwenza imikhankaso yokuqwashisa maqondana nokubandakanyeka kwabazali. Kuphakanyiswa ukuthi izikole kumele zifinyelele kubo bonke abazali futhi zithuthukise ukubandakanyeka kwabazali ekuthatheni iziphakamiso ezivela kumamodeli achazwe kulolu cwaningo.

Ouerbetrokkenheid is 'n onderwerp van bespreking in skole weens die aanname dat dit die prestasie van die leerder verbeter. Daar is 'n probleem van onderprestasie in skole wat kan veroorsaak word deur 'n gebrek aan ouerbetrokkenheid by die onderwys van kinders. Op grond van die probleem hierbo, is hierdie navorsing daarop gemik om die onderwysers en ouers se persepsies en ervarings van ouerbetrokkenheid by 'n skool in die Noordwes-provinsie te ondersoek. Die navorser volg 'n kwalitatiewe benadering wat 'n gevallestudie-ontwerp toepas. Doelgerigte steekproefneming is gebruik om 12 deelnemers te steek wat vermoedelik ingelig is oor die kwessie van ouerbetrokkenheid. Hierdie deelnemers het onderwysers en ouers ingesluit. Semigestruktureerde vrae is gebruik vir onderhoude van aangesig tot aangesig. Benewens die onderhoude, het die navorser ook veldnotas gebruik wat tydens die besoeke aan die deelnemers neergeskryf is. Dokumente wat by ouerbetrokkenheid gebruik is, is ook in hierdie navorsing versamel en gebruik. Die bevindinge toon dat onderwysers en ouers van mening is dat ouerbetrokkenheid vrugbaar is deurdat leerders akademies, gedragsmatig verbeter en gereeld skool bywoon. Skole kommunikeer en nooi ouers oor die akademiese kwessies van hul kinders. Onderwysers gee huiswerk aan leerders en ouers help hulle tuis. Vergaderings word deur die skool belê en ouers woon dit by. Hierdie navorsing het ook uitgevind dat hoewel onderwysers en ouers saamwerk daar skuiwergate in die proses is. Beide onderwysers en ouers is onkundig oor die wetgewing en beleid rakende ouerbetrokkenheid by die Departement van Basiese Onderwys. Nog 'n hindernis is die gebrek aan toewyding deur sommige onderwysers en ouers wat die betrokkenheid van ouers negatief beïnvloed. Sommige ouers het nie tyd vir hul kinders nie. Die studie beveel aan dat DBE bewusmakingsveldtogte moet doen rakende ouerbetrokkenheid. Daar word voorgestel dat skole by alle ouers moet uitkom en ouerbetrokkenheid moet verbeter, met voorstelle uit die modelle wat in hierdie navorsing beskryf word.