Parental attitude towards public basic schools in Sefwi Wiawso municipality

Abstract

The study investigated parental attitude towards public basic school in Sefwi Wiawso Municipality. It aimed at looking for the reasons why parents who have their children in the public basic schools ignore their responsibilities in educating their children. Mixed method was used in the study. Purposive sampling was used to select the respondents while simple random sampling method was used to select the schools which were used for the study. Questionnaire and interview guide were instruments used to gather data in this study. Simple frequency counts and percentages were used to analyze the quantitative data while the qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Parental involvement in the education of children in the public basic schools in Sefwi Wiawso Municipality was low. Low academic performance of the public basic schools, negative attitude of teachers towards work and misappropriation of funds by school authorities were the key school factors that contributed to the low participation or involvement of parents in the activities of the public basic schools. Low educational level, large family size, marital status, weak economic background and nature of parents‟ occupation were the socio-economic factors that influenced the lukewarm attitude of parents towards the activities of the public basic schools. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) should organise programmes to educate parents on the need to involve themselves fully in the education of their children. Again, the inspectorate division of the Municipal Education Directorate should strengthen their supervision to enable teachers in the public schools perform their duties as expected of them. Also, the government in collaboration with private individuals and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should come out with policies and programmes such as skill training, job creation, non-formal education to support parents to provide good education for their children.