Involving parents in the education of visually impaired children : A case of Lions Basic School for the visually impaired
Date
2011-06-10
Authors
Ndhlovu, Daniel
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Abstract
Involving parents in the education of their children with visual impairment is an
important aspect in the learning process for these children. Available research
shows that the first responsibility for educating a child rests with parents and
thereafter it becomes a shared responsibility with the school. Consistent with the ecological system theory, development of a child is facilitated when there are linkages between school and home. However, records of meetings at Lions basic
school for the visually impaired showed that parents were not involved in the
education of their children. This study therefore, sought to find out why parents
were not involved and how they could be involved in the education of their
children with visual impairment at Lions basic school for the visually impaired.
The study followed a descriptive research design. Qualitative and quantitative
research methods were used in the study. A total of seventy-five parents and
seven teachers participated in the study. Simple random sampling technique was
used to select the sample for the study. This technique was chosen because it
provided each element in the population an equal chance to be selected as a
study sample. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. In
questions requiring a parent or a teacher to indicate the degree of agreement or
disagreement, a likert scale was used. Scheduled structured interview method
was used to collect data. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS) in order to obtain frequencies and percentages.
Qualitative data was organized in common themes and quantitative data in
tables, bar graphs and pie charts.
The findings of the study revealed that breakdown of trust between parents and
teachers, lack of skill in reading and writing materials in braille, self accusation
due to the belief that disability of children was a result of sins of their parents,belief that education of children with visual impairment was not parents'
responsibility but of government and teachers were major reasons for noninvolvement of parents in the education of their children. In addition, long
distance between school and parents' residences, financial problems, lack of
invitation and sensitization to school activities were cited as other reasons for
non-involvement of parents in education of their children with visual impairment.
Despite the many reasons given by parents for their non-involvement in
education of their children, the study established beyond reasonable doubt that it
was possible for parents to be involved in the education of their children. Most
parents and teachers were very willing to work together. In addition, teachers
were willing to teach braille to parents and most parents were willing to learn to
read and write materials in braille. Parents were also willing to be involved in PTA
meetings, decision making process concerning their children, pupils' work, cost
sharing ventures and in providing information on their children.
Based on the findings, the study recommended that teachers should educate
parents on the benefits of being involved in the education of their children. It
was also recommended that teachers help parents to understand and appreciate
the method of reading loudly to children in order to build the knowledge required
by children for eventual success in reading. In addition, parents needed to be
educated on the causes of disabilities in order to demystify the belief that the
disability in children was a result of sins of parents.
Description
Keywords
Children, Blind , Visually handicapped children , Education -- Parent participation , Vision disorders in Children