Abstract
M.Ed.
Across the world, there is evidence that constructive involvement of parents in the
functioning of the school holds great benefits for the school, the students, the parents,
and their mutual relationships (European Network of Health Promoting Schools,
1995:17). The idea of parents as partners has recently become an important buzz-word
in education (Teacher's Forum South Africa, 1998:1). With South Africa's move
towards a democratic society, people are being given a say in the activities that
influence their lives, for example, to vote for the government, to vote for the governing
body at schools, to have a say in every day working circumstances. In management
terminology this implies shared decision making, partnerships and involvement in local
school management (Teacher's Forum South Africa, 1998:1). Yet, the fact that the
press and the education departments are calling for parents to become aware of their
rights, and participate in the schools, raises questions about parental attitudes with
regards to the national curriculum. Curriculum 2005 is responsible for giving parents more rights and responsibilities
within the school than any previous national curriculum in South Africa. It relies on
parental participation for its successful implementation. If parents do not agree with
the curriculum or do not trust the curriculum developers, they will not participate and
support it. A curriculum works on many levels and forms the heart of the education
process (Donald, et al. 1997,18). It is, therefore, imperative that all participants within
the education system agree with, and support the curriculum.
The call for parent participation and agreement within the schools has lead the
researcher to question whether all parents share the same attitudes towards the
national curriculum. This research project is, therefore, a study of the attitudes of
parents towards the new national curriculum. The researcher is trying to ascertain
parental attitudes towards Curriculum 2005, as parental attitudes will influence
parental behaviour. From the previous paragraphs, it is apparent that parental involvement within schools
is necessary for the successful implementation of the new national curriculum. The fact
that parental apathy is a general problem in schools in the Gauteng area, prompted the
researcher to question parental attitudes with regards to the curriculum.
This study will concentrate on uncovering the attitudes of parents towards the national
curriculum. Insight into the following will be sought:
What information parents have about the national curriculum.
What parents expect from the national curriculum.
What they believe the national curriculum to represent.
How positive or negative they feel about the national curriculum.
How they believe they should be involved in the national curriculum.
How necessary they believe the changes in the national curriculum to be.