Parental perceptions regarding issues pertinent to the primary education in Malta

Abstract

There are very few issues that can manage to stir up as much interest and concern in today's parents as the prospects of their children's education. Through this investigation we created an occasion for parents to exercise their vital role in the unfolding of their children's educational development, and to express their opinion regarding some of the salient aspects of their children's daily learning experiences and challenges. Our quantitative research delved into the experiences of parents whose children attended the primary schools of Birtebbugia, Gudja, Ghaxaq, Hamrun, Kirkop, Luqa, Mellieha, Mgarr, and Zebbug, in order to glean first hand feedback on their perceptions about Streaming, Examinations, Resources, Textbooks, Teaching Methods, Teacher-Pupil Ratio, Homework Assignments, Teacher's Qualifications, Parental Participation and School Autonomy. Joseph and Mark analysed the data gathered from years 1 to 3, John and Philip were responsible for years 4 to 6, while Carmel and Natalie compared the two sets of data. The main points elicited from the data collected were that parents strongly supported the practice of streaming, endorsed the present examinations system notwithstanding the negative connotations with stress, recognised the importance of individual attention and group-work, and asserted that teachers should have adequate University courses in teaching. Moreover, parents demonstrated a marked inclination towards increased participation at school. Impressed but in some cases, also perturbed - by these, sometimes contradictory, conclusions, we have recommended a number of changes intended to improve parental involvement.