Summary

The more parents are involved in their children's schooling the better their children's academic achievements, the more positive their attitudes to schooling and the lower the drop-out rate. These are the outcomes shown by the latest, world-wide research. In addition, parents involved in schools are more likely to increase their interaction with their children at home, are more confident about their ability to help their children and rate teachers more positively. With greater parental involvement, teachers feel less isolated and more motivated in their teaching tasks. Yet, while South African educators and policymakers endorse active parent participation, parents are not always treated as full partners in their children's schooling. This is a useful guide to more productive relationships between parents and schools, educators and school governing bodies. It describes a comprehensive and sustainable model for parent involvement which can be adjusted to meet the needs of different school contexts. The authors deal with each type of involvement and point out strategies for their implementation.