Description:
This study sought to investigate the contribution of parental involvement on the reduction of
school dropout in Mkoani District-Pemba. The objectives of the study were to examine how
parents are involved in student learning in a home setting and its contributions on the reduction
of school dropouts, to assess parental factors which lead to school dropouts, to find out the
contribution of parents-teachers communication on the reduction of school dropouts and to
suggest ways for enhancing effective parental participation in reducing school dropout. The
study employed a mixed research approach and a convergent parallel mixed method was the
research design. The respondents in this study were 10 teachers, 92 parents, 238 students and 18
dropout students. Data were collected through unstructured interview and closed-ended
questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics basically cross
tabulation, frequencies, and percentages and tested by using the Chi-square test with the aid of
SPSS version 20. Qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis method. The findings
of the study reveal that parents are involved in student learning at the home setting through
helping their children with their homework, guidance and counseling and provision of learning
materials. The study also found that parents can contribute much in student dropout. The study
also found that the presence of effective parent-teacher communication can reduce school
dropout. Lastly, the study suggested educating parents about the importance of their involvement
in their student learning. The study recommended that the revolutionary government of Zanzibar
should initiate laws to make parental involvement compulsory. Also, policymakers should
develop a parental participation policy which will guide parent. Lastly, a school needs to initiate
the parent-teacher association to make parents more effective.