An Investigation of Teachers’ Perception on Parental Involvement in Teaching and Learning Mathematics

Abstract

Parental involvement is the foundation stone of academic success. When parents interact with teachers and with their children to encourage mathematics learning, it builds a positive relationship that leads to better teaching and learning. Previous studies indicated that parental involvement affects learners' achievement. However, less is known about the effects of teacher perceptions of parental involvement on learners' mathematics achievement in primary school. The critical problem to be explored is teachers' perceptions toward parental involvement in learning mathematics. This paper investigates teachers' perceptions of parental involvement in teaching and learning mathematics. This study was guided by the following main question: What are teachers' perceptions of parental involvement in teaching and learning mathematics? The study used a qualitative exploratory case study design. Purposive convenience sampling is used to select research participants. Participants in the study are 18 Junior Primary teachers in Windhoek, Khomas Region-Namibia. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were administered to eighteen (18) teachers from selected schools located in Windhoek to explore teachers' perceptions of parental involvement in teaching and learning mathematics. The study's findings revealed that lack of parental support is one factor affecting the learners' achievement in mathematics, and the teachers need training on effectively involving the parents in learning mathematics. The anticipated contribution of the study is to motivate teachers and parents to collaborate in developing appropriate mathematical knowledge in children to understand mathematics concepts, to apply them in solving everyday problems and to encourage parents to support their children's mathematics learning, to equip parents with the necessary resources and skills for mathematics should we be faced with another disruption like the Covid-19 pandemic or exist in the future and for them to develop appropriate mathematical knowledge.