The Principals’ Views on Parent Participation in Governance of Rural Schools

Abstract The aim of this article is to explore the views of principals on parent participation in governance of rural schools. Apart from a literature review on parent participation in school governance, the article reports on a study in which empirical investigation based on quantitative research paradigm was used to collect data from rural school principals. The literature findings revealed that parent participation in school governance is a critical component of education in South Africa. The study further revealed that empirical findings elicited that rural school principals would like parents to have a significant role to play in school governance. The study is concluded by the submission that it is essential for parents participating in the school governance of rural schools to be given necessary training so that they can have a working knowledge of school governance activities.