IMPACT OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SENIOR PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OGBIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BAYELSA STATE

ABSTRACT This study investigated the impact of parental involvement on the academic performance of students in private secondary schools in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The objectives were to examine the relationship between parental involvement and academic performance, identify the most impact forms of involvement, assess the influence of socioeconomic factors, and propose strategies to improve school–home collaboration. An ex post facto research design was adopted, involving 200 Senior Secondary School (SSS 1–3) students selected through stratified random sampling from 10 private schools. Data were collected using a validated instrument, the Parental Involvement and Academic Performance Questionnaire (PIAPQ), which achieved a reliability coefficient of 0.70. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used to answer six research questions, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation tested five hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between parental involvement and students’ academic performance. Key factors such as provision of learning materials, supervision of homework, active participation in school activities, and effective communication with teachers were strongly associated with improved outcomes. Students with engaged parents recorded higher mean scores (M = 3.76) than those with uninvolved parents (M = 2.91). Socioeconomic variables—including parental education, occupation, income, and access to technology—were found to influence the level and quality of involvement. The study concludes that both home-based involvement (e.g., homework supervision and provision of study resources) and school-based involvement (e.g., PTA participation and volunteering) are essential to academic success. It recommends regular parenting workshops, adoption of user-friendly communication platforms, flexible meeting schedules for working parents, and targeted support for low-income families. The findings contribute to literature on parental engagement in Nigeria and offer practical strategies for improving academic outcomes through stronger school–home partnerships. Keywords: Parental involvement, academic performance, private secondary schools, Ogbia, socioeconomic factors.