Exploring Bahraini Parents' Views on Parental Involvement in Primary Education

Abstract

Abstract This article reports on an exploratory study of parental involvement in primary education conducted in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Drawing on a survey of 154 parents across 16 schools, parent views on parental involvement are explored – specifically, beliefs and experiences about parental involvement, and who should be held responsible for ensuring parental involvement. The study finds that the participants viewed all types of parental involvement identified by Epstein (2011) as important, and that it was emphasized by their children's schools, but had a school-centered view of home–school relations. Furthermore, they identified a range of barriers to parental involvement, with parents' other responsibilities featuring as the most important. Cultural factors influencing parental involvement within the specific cultural context of Bahrain are discussed.

Keywords

• education, parental involvement, parental engagement, bahrain, primary education