Authors: Peter Adam Seni and Daniel Onyango, PhD (St. Augustine University of Tanzania)
Abstract: This study sought to investigate on the roles of parents in enhancing children’s academic performance among Public Secondary Schools at Nyamagana District, Tanzania. The study employed the mixed research approach to organize the qualitative and quantitative data so as to deal with the research problem. The sample for this study included 88 students whereby Simple random sampling was used to select them. Purposive sampling was used to select the DEO, WEO and some teachers while parents were selected through convenient sampling. Data was gathered through questionnaire and interview schedule. The instruments were validated by two research experts from Saint Augustine University of Tanzania. The study concludes that parents are somehow not doing very well on the issue of parenting as a good number of them did not play their role effectively. Parental role in communication with teachers was done well as a good number of parents rarely or never communicated with teachers to make follow ups regarding their children’s education. The rate of parents’ volunteering in school development activities was very low and the rate of parental participation in supervision of students’ learning at home was very minimal. However, parents participated in decision making regarding school related activities. Finally, parents were not doing well on issues related to community participation. Based on the conclusions, it is recommended that since the rate of parental participation in enhancing children’s academic performance is low, school authorities need to organize for seminars and workshops to parents on the importance of their participation in school related programs that enhance the academic performance of their children.