Unlocking Excellence: The Impact of Parental Involvement on Quality Education in Addis Ababa's Private Schools
Contenu principal de l'article
Résumé
Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of parental engagement on the quality of education in private schools, emphasizing how various involvement dimensions contribute to educational outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach: Utilizing Epstein's Framework of Six Types of Involvement—Parenting, Communicating, Volunteering, Learning at Home, Decision-Making, and Collaborating with the Community—data were collected from 300 quantitative respondents and 30 qualitative respondents, including parents, teachers, and students in private schools in Addis Ababa.
Findings: The results reveal a strong correlation between higher parental involvement and improved academic performance (mean = 4.22) as well as increased student motivation (mean = 4.65). However, barriers such as time constraints and a lack of awareness regarding school activities were also identified (mean = 3.76). The study further emphasizes the significance of communication and collaboration between parents and schools, which positively influences school climate (mean = 4.43) and enhances student behavior (mean = 3.98).
Research limitations/implications: While the study provides important insights, it acknowledges limitations related to the sample size and the specific context of private schools in Addis Ababa. Future research should explore the long-term effects of parental engagement and strategies to effectively engage diverse parent populations.
Originality/value: This study contributes to the understanding of parental engagement in private schools by applying Epstein's Framework, offering unique insights into how different dimensions of involvement affect educational outcomes. It highlights the critical role of communication and collaboration in enhancing school climate and student motivation, providing a foundation for future research on effective parental engagement strategies.
Renseignements sur l'article

Cette œuvre est sous licence Creative Commons Attribution - Pas d'Utilisation Commerciale - Partage dans les Mêmes Conditions 4.0 International.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
Références
Abdullah, T. (2024). Family Adjustment in Relation to The Academic Engagement of Pupils at Primary Level. Journal of Elementary Education/Revija za Elementarno Izobraževanje, 17(3).
Alcott, B., & Rose, P. (2019). Does private schooling narrow wealth inequalities in learning outcomes? Evidence from East Africa. In Non-State Actors in Education in the Global South (pp. 5-20). Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203703281-1
Alemayehu, E. (2021). Practices, obstacles and benefits of instructional leadership at private schools of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 25(S3), 1-18.
Alfred, M., Kiggundu, S. E. J., Musa, M., & Wamaungo, J. A. (2023). The Contribution of Parents Involvement towards Students’ Academic Performance at Ugandan Certificate of Education in Public Secondary. Journal of Social Work and Science Education, 4(3), 1032-1052. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52690/jswse.v4i3.508
Allen, T. L. (2024). Qualitative Study on the Perceptions of High School Families and High School Teachers Regarding Family Engagement (Doctoral dissertation, Northcentral University).
Assefa, Y., Moges, B. T., Tilwani, S. A., Shah, M. A., & Majeed, H. (2024). Rethinking adult education in Ethiopia: the quest for interventions to overcome implementation challenges and foster effectiveness. Studies in the Education of Adults, 1-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02660830.2024.2422754
Batool, S., Ansari, M., Akhtar, S., & Ismaeel, G. (2024). Driving Excellence: The Role of Parental Engagement in Shaping Student Success in Secondary Schools. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 12(3), 2303-2312. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52131/pjhss.2024.v12i3.2400
Begna, O., & Amare, A. (2023). School Accountability for Learning Outcomes: A Case Study of Secondary Schools in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Journal Of Behavioural Studies, 6(1), 74-121.
Belay, D. G. (2020). COVID-19, Distance Learning and Educational Inequality in Rural Ethiopia. Pedagogical research, 5(4). DOI: https://doi.org/10.29333/pr/9133
Bentsi-Enchill, F. (2024). Teachers’ role and factors hindering Ghanaian high school students’ academic performance using Walberg’s educational productivity. Cogent Education, 11(1), 2393924. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2393924
Bouchouna, I. (2024). Attitudes and Expectations of Parents In Students ‘school Achievement. Knowledge-International Journal, 63(2), 187-192.
Charania, M. R. (2021). Family Engagement Reimagined: Innovations Strengthening Family-School Connections to Help Students Thrive. Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation.
Chen, W., Khan, S., Kanjanarat, K., & Punchatree, N. (2023). Epstein Framework of Parental Engagement a Key to Student Success of the Primary School Students: A Case Study of Yiwu Dongzhou, China. Journal of Advances in Humanities Research, 2(3), 113-134. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56868/jadhur.v2i3.172
Denbi, Y. G. (2019). Parental Understanding of Educational Quality and its Relationship to School Choice: A comparative study of private and public schools in Gullele Sub-city-Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Master's thesis).
Devonald, M., Jones, N., & Yadete, W. (2021). Addressing educational attainment inequities in rural Ethiopia: Leave no adolescent behind. Development Policy Review, 39(5), 740-756. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12523
Eden, C. A., Chisom, O. N., & Adeniyi, I. S. (2024). Parent and community involvement in education: strengthening partnerships for social improvement. International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences, 6(3), 372-382. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51594/ijarss.v6i3.894
Epstein, J. L., Coates, L., Salinas, K., Sanders, M. G., & Simon, B. S. (2005). Epstein’s framework of six types of involvement. Baltimore, MD: Center for the Social Organization of Schools.
Ersozlu, A., Karakus, M., Karakas, F., & Clouder, D. L. (2024). Nurturing a climate of innovation in a didactic educational system: A case study exploring leadership in private schools in Turkey. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 23(2), 275-295. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15700763.2022.2129074
Gershberg, A. I., Kefale, A., & Hailu, B. H. (2023). The political economy of educational reform and learning in Ethiopia (1941-2021). Res. Improv. Syst. Educ. PE09. https://doi. org/10.35489/BSG-RISE-2023/PE09. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35489/BSG-RISE-2023/PE09
Getachew, S. (2019). Assessment of Parents and Teachers Satisfaction in Private School: The Case of Soliana Academy Sc (Doctoral dissertation, St. Mary's University).
Haile, A. T. (2020). Succession Planning at Private Schools in Addis Ababa. European Journal of Business and Management Research, 5(5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.24018/ejbmr.2020.5.5.547
Halkiyo, A. (2023). Radical Policy Borrowing: An Intensive Inquiry into the Higher Diploma Program, Reform of Instruction Methods in Ethiopia (Doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University).
Hameed, R. (2023). The Role of Parents in Education. How to Support Your Child's Learning at Home. Harf-o-Sukhan, 7(2), 227-241.
Harris, J. G. (2023). Parent Involvement at Tuition-Based Independent Schools: Evaluating Applicability of Epstein’s Six Types (Doctoral dissertation, Marymount University).
Hroncich, C., & Buckland, J. (2024). Helping families navigate the changing education landscape. Cato Institute. Retrieved July, 17, 2024.
Knowles, S. (2024). Challenges School Leaders Face Where Parental Involvement Influences Their Children’s Holistic Development: An Exploratory Qualitative Case Study (Doctoral dissertation, American College of Education).
Kurabachew, D. (2019). Comparative Study of Organizational Culture and Academic Performance Between Selected Government and Private Schools at Akaki Kality Sub-City (Doctoral dissertation, st. mary's University).
Legede, C. A., Mamo, T. R., Debelo, D. B., & Yismaw, A. A. (2024). The role of teacher-related factors in enhancing quality service provision in pre-primary schools of Gambella regional state, Ethiopia. Quality Education for All, 1(1), 348-363. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/QEA-09-2024-0089
Lemessa, R., Senbeto, T., Alemayehu, E., & Gemechu, N. (2023). Family involvements in education and quality of education: Some selected 2nd cycle public schools in west shoa zone, Ethiopia. Cogent Education, 10(1), 2197669. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2197669
Liu, X., Liu, J., Demmans Epp, C., & Cui, Y. (2024). Exploring the effect of parental involvement on student engagement and academic performance using process data from learning management system. Educational technology research and development, 1-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-024-10440-3
Miaohui, Q., & Farhana, N. (2024). The Role of Parental Involvement in Education. Informative Journal of Management Sciences (IJMS), 3(3).
Nazari, A., Soleimani, N., & Shafizadeh, H. (2024). Identifying and Evaluating Factors Affecting Poverty and Academic Achievement of Poor Students in Hormozgan Province. Iranian Evolutionary Educational Psychology Journal, 6(3), 277-302.
Nketsia, W., Side, A. S., Opoku, M. P., & Gemeda, F. T. (2022). Exploring the predictors of teacher retention among beginning teachers in Ethiopia. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 30, 108-108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.30.7236
Nzuruba, J. (2024). Parental Involvement in Child Education. Journal of Language and Culture in Education, 1(1), 152-172.
Paun, N. (2024). The Parental Impact on Education: Understanding the Correlation between the Parental Involvement and Academic Results. Acta Educationis Generalis, 14(2), 16-26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/atd-2024-0009
Rowan, L., Bourke, T., L’Estrange, L., Lunn Brownlee, J., Ryan, M., Walker, S., & Churchward, P. (2021). How does initial teacher education research frame the challenge of preparing future teachers for student diversity in schools? A systematic review of literature. Review of Educational Research, 91(1), 112-158. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654320979171
Sakamoto, J. (2022). Financing Public Schools with Private Funds: Efficiency-Equity Trade-Off of Multi-Stakeholder School Financing in Punjab, Pakistan. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 30(75), n75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.30.6828
Tamrat, W. (2021). Enduring the impacts of COVID-19: experiences of the private higher education sector in Ethiopia. Studies in Higher Education, 46(1), 59-74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2020.1859690
Tareke, T. G., Woreta, G. T., Zewude, G. T., Amukune, S., Oo, T. Z., & Józsa, K. (2024). Overview of Ethiopian Public Higher Education: Trends, System, Challenges, and Quality Issues. Education Sciences, 14(10), 1065. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14101065
Van Le, H. (2024). Factors impeding university students' participation in English extracurricular activities: Time constraints and personal obstacles. Heliyon, 10(5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27332
Wilbers, C. H. J. (2014). Identifying barriers to effective private schooling for the marginalized: A case study on language practices and education quality in low-cost private community schools in Kibera, Nairobi (Master's thesis).
Yang, Y., Liu, K., Li, M., & Li, S. (2022). Students’ affective engagement, parental involvement, and teacher support in emergency remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from a cross-sectional survey in China. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 54(sup1), S148-S164. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2021.1922104