The impact of parents’ involvement on pupils’ academic performance in primary leaving examinations in Namwendwa sub-county, Kamuli district, Uganda.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the impact of parents’ involvement on pupils’ academic performance in PLE in Namwendwa sub-county in Kamuli District. The objectives that guided the study were: to find out how parents can get involved in the academic performance of their pupils, to establish the magnitude of effect that parents’ involvement has on pupils’ performance in primary leaving examinations and to suggest better strategies for parents’ involvement in school activities in order to improve pupils’ performance. The study focused on five UPE schools in Namwendwa. The targeted respondents included teachers, pupils (primary seven pupils), school administrators, PTA and SMC members, local councils of those particular areas. The study was based on a sample size of 112 respondents. The researcher used probability sampling techniques such as the; simple random sampling technique. Data was collected from primary and secondary sources. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected and expressed in numeric terms for analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) whereas the qualitative data was sorted and organized according to the objectives. It was concluded that: parents communicating with the teachers about the children’s education, and always attending school functions when invited were the ways how parents can get involved in performance of their pupils, and it was also noted that children from homes with both parent performed highly. It was found out that; time parents give children to finish homework had the strongest positive magnitude effect that parents’ involvement has on pupils’ performance. It was found out that the schools need to: organize regular meetings with parents, make personal phone calls to parents, teachers visit homes of parents, involve parents in all decisions about children’s performance and also sensitizing of the parent’s community if performance in PLE was to improve. It was recommended that parents should communicate with teachers about the children’s education and attend school functions when invited. It was also recommended that the parents should give time to children at home since it enables them to finish homework for better pupils’ performance. It was recommended that schools should adopt organizing regular meetings, making personal phone calls to parents, teachers making home visits, involving parents in all decisions about children’s performance and sensitizing of the parent’s community as strategies to support parents’ involvement in school activities for improved PLE performance.