Challenges and Opportunities in Engaging Parents From Migrant and Disadvantaged Contexts in Their Children's Learning

• In Event: 14.045 - Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: 14.045-15 - The Role of Parents and Parent Narratives in Addressing School and Community Equity

Abstract

The Parent Engagement research was a one year study that investigated perspectives on parent participation in education across two cohorts: migrant and low socio-economic status (SES) communities. Focus groups interviews were conducted with educators and parent communities to investigate the role of parents and educators in relation to children’s learning and identify the barriers and enablers of parent engagement. Findings suggest the need for a shared understanding of teaching and learning in schools located in low SES contexts and with a high migrant parent population. While learning in the home is acknowledged, the context of students’ lives within was not well understood. Participating parents had high aspirations for their children, but their engagement in schools was limited by socio-economic- cultural factors.

Authors

• Christine A Woodrow, Western Sydney University

• Loshini Naidoo, University of Western Sydney