Influence of parental involvement in school activities on retention of girl children in government-aided primary schools

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed at finding out the influence of parental involvement in school activities on the retention of girl children in government-aided primary schools in Kibaale District. The study was guided by the following study objectives; To examine the relationship between parental role awareness and retention of girl children in government-aided primary schools in Kibaale District; To establish the influence of parental self-efficacy on the retention of girl children in government-aided primary schools in Kibaale District and; To analyze the relationship between parents’ communication with school and retention of girl children in government-aided primary schools in Kibaale District. Methodology: A cross sectional was conducted and data from a sample of 108 respondents was obtained using questionnaires and interview guides which were analysed descriptively and inferentially. SS Results: The results of the study showed that, parental role awareness had a moderate positive relationship with girl children retention in Kibaale District (r1=0.357; sig= 0.05); parental self efficacy has a high positive influence on girl children retention in Kibaale District (r2 =0.510; sig=0.05) and, parent’s communication with the school had a high positive relationship with girl children retention in Kibaale District (r3=0.685, sig=0.05). Other factors that were affecting girl children retention in school were; lack of parents’ role awareness after introduction of free primary education; parents prioritizing educating boys than girls for better future education benefits/investment returns; most parents not attending school meetings regularly, and parents actively participating when they some activities involving children and them such as carrying food and sharing it with their children while at school. Conclusions: Parental involvement in school activities made a significant contribution of 48.1 percent (r2 =0.481) on girls’ children retention in Kibaale District, keeping other factors constant. Each of the independent factors that is; parent’s communication with school, parental self efficacy and parental role awareness influenced girl child retention. Recommendations: Improving parental involvement in school activities in order to improve on girl child retention in Kibaale District. The methods of communication between school and parents should be improved. There is need to integrate school meetings with visitation of children in their classes and parents coming with a meal to share with girls’ children at school; further research integrated approach of school meetings with class academic checks