School policies and parental involvement in education of nursery school children in Kabale municipality, Kabale district Uganda

Abstract

Pre-primary school years present crucial opportunities for children's growth, development and learning. Parental involvement in their children's early education is thus important since they are the first educators of their children. Parental involvement in the children's education enhances their holistic development. The purpose of the study was to examine the implementation of existing nursery school policies and parental involvement in education of their children in Kabale Municipality, Kabale District, in South Western Uganda. This study was guided by three objectives namely, to establish the contributions of school feeding policy on parental involvement in education of nursery children, to analyze the influence of school meetings policies on parental involvement and to assess the influence of fees policies on parental involvement on nursery education. The study was also guided by the cultural capital theory of parental involvement in early years which desctibes how parents should be involved in education of their children during elementary education. The descriptive survey was used while incorporating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study sample size consisted of 100 parents, 40 teachers and 10 head teachers totaling to 150 respondents. Data was collected using a questionnaire for teachers and head teachers while interview schedule was administered by parents. Findings indicated that there is a positive relationship between parental involvement in attending meetings and providing meals. However, the findings also indicated a negative relationship in payment of fees. Daily business engagements which limited their capacity to involve themselves fully in their children's education. The study thus concluded that parents were involved more in activities that required financial contribution to the expense of other necessities. It was therefore recommended that proprietors and head teachers should increase parents' awareness on the importance of getting involved in early childhood education and this could be done by encouraging parents to attend meetings where all related school issues are discussed.