Parental Participation in Children’s Educational Activities: Experiences of Parents and Teachers in Cameroon

The encouragement of children’s education requires several factors with parental involvement as a main factor in the educational experience. A large number of parents’ participation in their children’s education has been found to be less as compared to effective participation principles. This has led to the loss of the positive effects attributed to parent’s participation in their children’s educational activities. A qualitative research was conducted with parents and the school authorities to know the factors that motivate and hinder parents’ participation in their children’s education in secondary schools. Participants were purposively sampled due to their experience and knowledge in issues related to parental participation in the education of their children. Findings revealed that parents’ belief that their participation in their children’s education is part of the training they are supposed to give them and it has motivated them to participate. To comply with the system of integrated support for their children’s, schools need to build partnership with parents and develop mutual responsibility for children’s success in the educational system. Thus, an increase and encouragement emanate to a positive impact to a successful educational system of Cameroon. The results of the study show a significant positive relationship between parental participation in their children’s education and their academic performance. It is recommended from this study that parents should be sensitized of their crucial role in supporting their children’s education like exposing them to the social and academic world.