Abstract
D.Ed. (Educational Management)
The basis for parental involvement in the educative teaching of children
is the responsibility parents have for the education of their children.
The education and teaching of the child in the context of the home and
family unit provides the foundation for the child's future use of his
intellect. social relationships as well as the development of his emotions.
Parental education endeavours to encourage the child to acquire knowledge
on his own. The desire to learn. as it manifests itself in the family unit
and in specific contents. forms the basis for the child's teaching and
learning at school.
To meet ethic and educational demands of society parents are compelled to
make use of specialised assistance to supplement and extend their educative
endeavours as regards the teaching of their children. Schools were
established to meet this demand for specialised teaching by professionally
trained teachers. without taking over the educative duties of parents.
Schools cannot replace parental responsibility and influence. Their accepted
function supplements that of parents. Responsible parents will consequently
be interested in the manner the responsible school carries out its accepted
duties. This forms the key to the principle of parental involvement in all
aspects of teaching practice.
There has been a perceptible increase in parental involvement in White
schools in the Republic of South Africa since 1982. A number of reasons
can be listed for this phenomenon. The problem. however, is that the
participation on behalf of the parents has not brought about the desired
results. This study was undertaken to determine the reasons for this
failure.
The research programme was conducted along dual lines. Firstly an extensive
study was made of the publications concerned with White parental involvement
in the education of White children. Secondly an empirical investigation was
done on the various aspects of parental involvement in the schools'
educational programmes. Chairmen of management councils of Transvaal
provincial schools were used as respondents.