Abstract
M.Ed. (Educational Management)
Meaningful education in schools can only take place if their is a close relationship between school and home. The parent must protect his rightful share in the education of his child by active involvement in the school. The school is not an independent or isolated entity but it operates in a social context within a community. Parents are compelled to make use of specialised assistance to extend their educative endeavours, and that is the task of the school. Every principal needs to develop a
good understanding and competency in bUilding and maintaining effective
school-parent-relationships. The principal is both leader and manager of a school. As principal he strives towards set goals, aided by his staff, pupils and parents. The
effectiveness of parental involvement will depend primarily on the principal's managerial skill. The principal needs to create a certain school climate by means of his managerial style, in which parents will feel the need to participate. School-parent relationships and communication are important tasks for the school principal. The goal of the school principal in performing these tasks, should not be to manipulate parent-opinion, but to develop understanding, perspective and commitment with the parents of the school. The principal should endeavour to develop the ideal leadership style, in order to establish a climate which will be conductive to parental involvement.
Partnership implies relationships, duties and responsibilities. The clear
understanding of partnership and how it will effect the teacher and the parent, is crucially important in education today. In the partnership between the teacher and the parent, the teacher may be regarded as a cornerstone of the partnership. The partnership between teacher and parent forms the basis and the only real hope for a superior school programme at all levels. Parents should be more involved in the affairs
of the school and the major responsibility for further parent involvement and partnership between teacher and parent rests with the school and indeed mostly with the school principal.