Effects of Parental Education and

Involvement on Student Achievement:

Evidence from Pakistan

Baela Raza Jamil

Zara Khan
Zaheer Abbas
PRESENTED AT: Comparative and
International Education Society (CIES) 10th
to 16th March 2014
Participation at CIES Supported by: Open Society Foundation (OSF)
 Presentation Outline
Introduction
Objectives of the Paper
Past Studies on the Topic
Context of the Study
Tools used for Analysis
The Econometric Model
Results and Findings
Discussions
Policy Recommendations
Future Directions and Research

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Introduction- Learning Crisis in Pakistan

Only 43% of Grade 5 students can do Grade 2 level two digit

division or read Grade 2 level sentences in English. (ASER
Pakistan 2013)
Deteriorating trends from 2012 to 2013

Grade 5 students who can read Grade 2 level sentences in English Grade 5 students who can do Grade 2 level two-digit division
50 50
48 48
46 46
% Students 44 48 % Students 44

42 43 42 44 43
40 40
2012 2013 2012 2013

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Reasons for Poor Learning Levels

Lack of
Content
preparation Challenges Lack of
relevance
/ careless of political
and school
attitude of textbooks will
facilities
teachers

Student Background and Home Environment?

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Objectives of the Paper

To study the effect of parental

education on the Arithmetic
learning capabilities of children.

To study the associations of

parental involvement, the
incidence of domestic work, the
taking of private tuition and the
home environment with the
learning capabilities of children.

To find out the linkages between

maternal education and a
favorable home environment on
learning capabilities of children

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 www.aserpakistan.org, www.itacec.org
Parental
Increased Greater the
educational level-
maternal parental
the most
education, education, greater
important
increased the parental
determinant of the
achievement and involvement,
educational
readiness to better the home
attainment of
attend school environment
children.
(Behrman & (Davis-Kean,
(Stevenson and
Rosenweig,2002) 2005)
Baker, 1987)
Past Literature
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Phas
Conducted in 2013 in Pakistan (ITA)
Districts: Faisalabad, Mianwali and Rahim Yar Khan e III
Number of Schools: 106
Phas
Conducted in 2011 in Pakistan (World Bank)
Districts: Faisalabad, Mianwali and Rahim Yar Khan e II
Number of Schools: 120
Conducted in 2007-08 in India (World Bank) Phas
States: Bihar and Uttar Pradesh eI
Districts: 10
Number of Schools: 160
Context of the Study (School-TELLS)
 Size of the Study
106 Schools
(33 Girls Only, 44 Boys Only, 29
Mixed)

521 Primary teachers

surveyed and assessed
1652 Students From Grades
3 and 5 surveyed and
assessed
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 Tools Used in the Study
Survey Tools
School Questionnaire
Classroom Observation Questionnaire
Teachers Questionnaire
Students Questionnaire
Assessment Tools
Teachers Test
Students Test
RAVENS Progressive Matrices Test

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 Tools used for Analysis

School
Student
Questionna RAVENS
Test
ire
Gathered Tested students RAVENS
Information on on Arithmetic Progressive
the Background competencies up Matrices Test
and Home to 5th grade. Administered to
Environment Final test scores serve as a proxy
scored out of a for the childs
total of 100 ability
marks

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 Median Learning scores

For Grade 3:
Math score= 47 out of 100
RAVENS Test Score= 8 out of 20

For Grade 5:
Math score= 56 out of 100
RAVENS Test Score= 10 out of 20

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The Econometric Model
Math_score= 0+ 1Parent_Educ + X+

where Math_score= Total score of the child on the

Student Test
Parent_Educ= Highest Educational Level in the
Household
X= Control and Explanatory Variables

H0: Parental Education does not have an impact on the

Arithmetic test scores of children

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 Variables used in the Regression

Age
Control Gender
Variables Ravens Score (IQ)

Parental Involvement
Childrens Aspiration
Explanatory Socio Economic Conditions
Private Tuition
Variables Language Used at home
Incidence of Domestic Work

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Associations
between
Explanatory
Variables

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 Results and Findings
For Grade 5

Parental Education

Children of educated parents

score 3 points more, on average.
Null Hypothesis rejected

Highly Significant

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 Results and Findings
For Grade 5
A slight positive
Socioeconomi effect
c Conditions Not very
significant
-2.24 points on
Domestic average
Work Significant
-4.38 points on
Private average
Tuitions Significant

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 Results and Findings
Grade 3

Parental Involvement

Children whose parents ask

about their school related
activities at least twice a week
score 4.8 points higher, on
average
Highly Significant

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 www.aserpakistan.org, www.itacec.org
Impact of
domestic Socioeconomic
work on the conditions have Parental
Paternal
learning significant Involvement
education is
levels is impact on the is significant
significant learning
significant for
for the
and higher in outcomes of the the children in
children in
Grade 5 as children in Grade 5
Grade 3
compared to Grade 5
Grade 3.
Discussions
 Policy Recommendations
Improving Improving
Parental Parental
Education Involvement
Special
Non-Formal Awareness
Learning and
Options Orientation
Programs
Awareness
about a
Incentives better
learning
Environment
Strings
Attached
Social Safety
Net /Voucher
Programs

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 Future Directions and Research

Parental Home
Maternal
Involvem Environm
Variables
ent ent

n 2014 these schools will be revisited and some intervention is being explored with the
School Education Dept, Punjab and private schools in the study

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 Thank You!

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