Perceptions and Practices of Parental Involvement in Primary Education in District Kotli Azad Jammu and Kashmir
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55737/rl.2025.41190Keywords:
Parental Involvement, Academic Learning, Primary Education, Parent-Teacher Partnership, Student Achievement, PakistanAbstract
This study examined parental involvement in primary education in District Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on teachers’ perceptions and current practices. Using a descriptive survey design, 150 female primary school teachers were randomly selected from 753 in Tehsil Kotli. A validated five-point Likert scale questionnaire was administered, and data were analyzed using percentages and mean scores. Teachers demonstrated strong positive perceptions of parental involvement (overall mean = 3.53), strongly endorsing immediate teacher contact for problems, scheduled parent-teacher meetings, and daily parent-child discussions about school learning (each M=3.67). Regarding practices, teachers actively facilitated involvement (overall mean = 3.55), with highest-rated practices including actively inviting parents to meetings, considering meetings effective, valuing parental responses to school reports, informing parents about absences, and suggesting home learning activities (each M=3.60). The study concludes that parental involvement is essential for primary-level academic performance. Effective involvement encompasses immediate problem communication, pleasant interactions, regular and scheduled meetings, valuing parental input, positive responses to school communications, friendly teacher-parent relationships, voluntary school assistance, cooperation in discipline, parental curriculum knowledge, and homework support. Teachers actively facilitate this through homework engagement, meeting invitations, progress discussions, and learning suggestions. While primary school teachers in Kotli hold positive perceptions and actively implement engagement practices, findings indicate opportunities to further strengthen family-school partnerships.
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