PARENTAL AND CAREGIVER INVOLVEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICAN EDUCATION

290pp., paperback, HSRC Press, Cape Town, 2025 

ISBN: 9780796926982

A collection of essays that focus on parent and caregiver involvement in South African schools across the education system, from early childhood development to basic education, and bring together research and case studies.

"This is an extremely timely contribution. As we grapple with the challenge of radically transforming the South African educational system, the contributors to this volume tell us about the structural, affective and practical issues that stand in the way of bringing parents and caregivers properly and fully into the process of education. The chapters are informative and are written with feeling and insight." Crain Soudien, Emeritus Professor, University of Cape Town

Cobtributions include:

"Linking politics, policy, and practice in understanding parent involvement" by Bakang Mputle

""Who are South African caregivers, how do they feel about educational quality, and what is their involvement in schools?" by Tarryn de Kock and Adam Cooper

"Black middle-class parents' involvement in children's education: Stories of trauma and hope" by Thembeka Myende and Phumalani Myende

"What's blame got to do with it? Teacher and parent blame narratives in South African primary schools" by Andrew Paterson, Melanie Ehren and Zaheedah Vally

"Pathways to implementing effective parental involvement programmes in South Africa" by Adele Mooi and Abigail Dreyer.  

Zahraa McDonald is Associate Professor in the Department of Religion Studies at the University of Johannesburg.

Adam Cooper is Chief Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council.

Ashnie Mahadew teaches in the School of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Noxolo Xaba is at the South African College of Applied Psychology.