The challenges of parental involvement in rural secondary schools of Umvoti Circuit in KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating the challenges of parental involvement in rural secondary schools of Umvoti Circuit in KwaZulu-Natal. Participants included three principals, three teachers, with three or more work experience and six school governing body members. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach, where data was collected using semi-structured interviews and document analysis. This study revealed that the schools experience significant challenges when it comes to parental involvement. When the school organises meetings, there is only a limited number of parents who attend. The reason for non-participation include parents being committed at work. Other challenges that the schools experience include parents not assisting their children with schoolwork and also checking their schoolwork. Schools also mentioned that parents do not report their children when they are absent from school even when there is a code of conduct that the parents ought to adhere to. Participants further mentioned that sometimes the letters that they send to parents do not reach home, because the learners throw them away. The study reported on the implications of the lack of parental involvement on learner performance. Implications include learners displaying poor performance, developing bad behaviour, and the school experiencing high absenteeism from learners. The findings also revealed that the schools have introduced strategies to promote parental involvement, such as inviting parents for meetings and celebrations, luring parents to attend at school by issuing report cards to them (parents) not learners. Schools also try to include parents by asking for extra assistance from parents to volunteer at school and also offering piece jobs for unemployed parents. Schools have opted to introduce other communication methods, such as communicating with parents who have access to WhatsApp, Facebook, e-mails, placing notices at shops and using loudspeakers, sending sms’s and making calls to parents.