FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN HOMEWORK AMONG LEARNERS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN SELECTED PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN LUSAKA DISTRICT

Abstract

This study was to establish the factors that influence parental involvement in homework among learners with visual impairment. A descriptive survey design supported by qualitative and quantitative method of data collection was used.  The sample size was 109 participants consisting of 38 parents, 27 teachers, 4 head teachers who were purposively selected and 40 learners with visual impairment who were selected using simple random procedure. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 23 to generate descriptive statistics and inferential tests such correlation, t-test and multiple regression. Qualitative data was analysed through thematic analysis with actual voice as verbatims. The study showed that there were some factors that influenced parental involvement in homework which in a way negatively affected the learners’ academic performance. These included high level of illiteracy, busy schedules of parents, and differences between home and school braille use which led to failure to help children with homework. The study recommended that government should take the initiative to orient and train parents in braille to enable them communicate effectively in reading and writing in braille with their children when doing homework.