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.
