Parental Involvement in Secondary Schools

Perspectives of Teachers and Parents

Abstract

Parental involvement in the education of student is new in Bhutanese schools and no study has been conducted to examine the parental involvement in their children’s education. This study aims to find out how secondary schools currently involve parents and barriers to such involvement. The study was carried out in one higher secondary schools in Thimphu Thromde, Bhutan. Data were collected through observation, interview and focus group discussion. The observation of parental involvement in the school was carried out for three years and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 teachers of the same school. A non-probability convenience sampling was used to select the school and teacher participants. To substantiate the findings, parents of seven students studying in the same school were randomly selected to participate in the focus group discussions. The observation, interview and focus group discussion were analysed using emerging themes. The study revealed that the school involves parents through Parent Teacher Meeting and the School Parents Education Awareness programmes. However, there was no written school guideline on parental involvement and effective communication between teachers and parents. Teachers were not confident to involve parents due to limited exposure and lack of training. The study recommends addressing the issue by developing formal guidelines on involving parents in their children’s education process and ensuring consistent monitoring and follow-up of its implementation.