Parents' Awareness of Home Learning Environment and Its Influence on Children's Academic Achievement in North 'A' District -- Unguja, Zanzibar

This study examined parents' awareness of the Home Learning Environment (HLE) and its influence on children's academic achievement in North 'A' District, Unguja, Zanzibar. A mixed-methods descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, collecting data from 45 respondents comprising 20 parents, 10 teachers, and 15 students drawn from three primary schools: Mkokotoni, Mkwajuni, and Mbuyu Maji. Questionnaires using a 5-point Likert scale were administered to parents, semi-structured interviews were conducted with teachers, and focus group discussions were held with students. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework. Content and construct validity were established through pre-testing and piloting of the instruments, while triangulation across data sources strengthened the reliability and trustworthiness of the findings. Findings revealed that parents' awareness of HLE was generally low across all measured domains: only 30% of parents reported having sufficient time to direct their children's academic matters, 25% considered helping with academics a parental duty, 30% provided homework support, 35% attended school meetings, and only 45% believed their educational level enabled them to support their children's learning. Parental education level, occupational demands such as fishing and farming, and economic constraints were identified as the primary barriers to an effective HLE. The study concludes that low parental awareness negatively affects children's academic achievement, consistent with Walberg's theory of academic achievement, which identifies the home environment as a critical variable influencing student outcomes. The study recommends targeted parental education programs, flexible school-parent engagement strategies, policy interventions addressing socioeconomic barriers, and longitudinal research examining the causal relationship between HLE awareness interventions and academic achievement outcomes.

Academic Achievement, Home Learning Environment, Parental Awareness, Primary Education, Zanzibar.

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