Education specialists and classroom teachers are urging parents to take a more active role in their children’s schooling, noting that strong parental involvement has a major influence on learners’ academic results, self-belief, and future success.
Studies repeatedly show that children whose parents are engaged in their education tend to earn better grades, show improved behaviour, and stay motivated throughout their school years. Teachers say this support should begin at home and continue consistently, rather than being limited to report-collection days.
Findings from the National Committee for Citizens in Education reveal that when families and schools work closely together, learners benefit academically in several ways. These include improved grades, higher test scores, better graduation rates, and increased participation in further education.
Positive Action reports that learners with supportive parents are 81% more likely to finish high school. In contrast, research by Rumberger shows that students without proper academic guidance and supervision are 34% more likely to drop out. The same study found that low parental expectations are linked to higher dropout rates.
Improving education quality remains a national priority in South Africa. To strengthen learning outcomes, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has rolled out various school programmes and continues to stress the importance of parents and caregivers in supporting learning.
However, the DBE admits that parental and community involvement remains limited. To address this, the department introduced a practical guide to help parents contribute meaningfully to their children’s education, including steps they can take at home to boost performance.
The booklet encourages parents to reflect on key questions such as how their child is progressing, how they can support improvement, and how to ensure a positive school experience. The DBE says the guide is designed to empower parents to become active partners in their children’s education so learners can reach their full potential.
Quoting the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” the department emphasised that educating a child requires collective effort from families, schools, and communities.
Research both locally and internationally confirms that strong parental involvement leads to better attitudes toward school, higher achievement, improved attendance, and more consistent homework completion. The South African Schools Act also underlines the importance of meaningful school–parent relationships.
Despite ongoing efforts, challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and single-parent households often limit parental engagement, shifting focus to basic survival rather than education.
Teachers interviewed by Inside Education stressed the need for parents to build trusting academic relationships with their children. They encouraged daily checks of schoolwork, regular communication with schools, monitoring behaviour and emotional wellbeing, managing cellphone use, and promoting discipline.
