The Importance of Parental Involvement in a Child’s Schooling: An Analysis of N.G Dlamini’s Drama Impicabadala

Abstract

It is common knowledge that most parents in South Africa are not playing their full role in their children’s lives. Parents rarely provide their children with the assistance they need to succeed in school. This qualitative study has employed N.G. Dlamini Impicabadala's drama book as it is a good example of literature that address these issues. The purpose of this study is to examine the importance of parental involvement in a child’s education and growth in the aforementioned drama focusing on three aspects namely: home, community and school. The bioecological system theory was applied as a theory supporting this study. This theory examines a child's growth in the context of the system of relationships that constitutes his or her environment. The findings suggest that the separation of parents while children at a young age have a negative impact because this means a change in the environment. The absence of Ngqondo (mother) and Madoda (father) in the lives of Delisile and Nozipho is what led to Delisile having many children with a married man. This study recommends that all government agencies such as social workers intervene to look at homes with children living alone to avoid a situation like Delisile's.