The Influence of Parental Involvement on the Academic Work of Pupils: A Study of Three Selected Junior High Schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of parental involvement on the academic work of Junior High School pupils. The descriptive research design was employed for the study. A sample size of 90 was used from three selected JHS in the OLA circuit of the Cape Coast District in the Central Region of Ghana namely OLA Presbyterian, Imam Khomeini and Apewosika Junior High Schools. The purposive, stratified and simple random sampling procedures were used. The research instrument used was questionnaire. The study revealed that majority of the respondents’ parents were involved in their academic work. The involvement included encouraging their children to do well in school, making sure that they go to school, and attending PTA meetings. Again, it was discovered that when parents showed interest in their children’s education, it made them (children) feel very happy and confident. The findings also indicated that parental involvement in children’s education had a positive impact on the academic work and even the emotional state of pupils. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that parents be educated more on the need to visit their children in school. This will help them to monitor their children’s progress and provide an avenue for interaction with teachers on ways to improve the academic performance of pupils. Pupils should be motivated as much as possible by their parents and teachers. Finally, parents should take more interest in the educational activities of their children.