Abstract:

The engenderment of children’s education requires the interplay of several factors with parental involvement as a key ingredient in the educational experience. However, some parents’ participation in their children’s education has been found to be low in both rural and urban communities alike. This has led to the loss of the positive effects attributed to parent’s participation in their children’s education. A qualitative research was therefore conducted with parents of pupils in the University of Ghana Basic School as well as the teachers of primary classes four, five and six, to interrogate factors that motivate and inhibit parents’ participation in children’s education. Participants were purposively sampled due to their experience and knowledge in issues related to parents’ participation and non-participation in their children’s education. Findings revealed that parents’ belief that their participation in their children’s education is part of the training they are supposed to give them has motivated them to participate. Barriers to parental participation in their children’s education include the high cost of living which keeps parents preoccupied with economic ventures, and low self-esteem due to some parents’ illiteracy which makes them feel they cannot offer much besides paying their children’s school fees.

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