To download article.DOI: https://doi.org/10.15507/1991-9468.117.028.202404.574-588
Back to the Family: Rethinking the Role of Parents in Schooling (Сase of the Republic of Guinea)
Katerina V. Fofanova
Dr.Sci. (Sociol.), Professor of the Chair of Sociology and Social Work, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2344-8986, SPIN-code: 4082–7312, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Adama Conde
Master of Sociology, Head of the Department of Educational Activities, Ministry of PreUniversity Education and Literature of Guinea (Calum Almania, Conakry, Republic of Guinea), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3169-5275, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract
Introduction. The problem of the interaction between family and school is being actively discussed in a number of African countries in the context of the active reform of the education sector. On the one hand, the educational system is being modernized; on the other hand, the potential of traditional education remains, emphasizing the special role of the family in the formation of fundamental values as the main vector of modern educational reform in Africa. The purpose of this article is to identify the role of the family in the education of schoolchildren and the development of education in Guinea, based on an expert survey.
Materials and Methods. The theoretical basis of the study was the approach of P. Bourdieu and J.-C. Passeron which reveals the principles of the educational system, the conditions for the success of the educational process, the influence of the cultural and linguistic capital of the family on the success of the child. The empirical basis is statistical data, expert interviews with teachers, school principals, employees of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Guinea (N – 20 people).
Results. The study identifies trends in the development of school education in the Republic of Guinea, and provides an expert assessment of family and school cooperation in the process of education and upbringing of schoolchildren. The study shows that although the country declares a universal and free right to education, the inequality of educational opportunities for children reproduces a wide gap between the strata of Guinean society. To a greater extent, inequality in access to education is linked to the place of residence. According to the experts, the solution to the current problems in Guinea’s education system depends not only on the school and the government’s education policy, but also on the family. The experts highlighted the growing role of the family in the education of children and identified the main forms of interaction between school and family: constant contact with teachers and the administration, participation in the development and adaptation of curricula, in civil society structures (APEAE), etc.
Discussion and Conclusion. On the basis of expert opinion, the expediency of developing forms of interaction between schools and families is justified. The material in this article may be of interest to educational researchers, teachers and specialists involved in the development of educational policy in Guinea.
Keywords: education, family, school, cultural capital, student, expert interview
Conflict of interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
For citation: Fofanova K.V., Konde A. Back to the Family: Rethinking the Role of Parents in Schooling (Case of the Republic of Guinea). Integration of Education. 2024;28(4):574–588. https://doi.org/10.15507/1991-9468.117.028.202404.574-588
Author’s contribution:
K. V. Fofanova – scientific guidance; formulation of the scientific problem of research; formulation of the scientific hypothesis of research; definition of research objectives; critical analysis of research results and revision of the text.
A. Conde – collection and primary analysis of data; development of research methodology; collection,systematization and processing of analytical information; preparation of the initial version of the text; critical analysis and revision of the text.
Availability of data and materials. The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the authors on reasonable request.
The authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Submitted 28.07.2024;
revised 16.09.2024;
accepted 23.09.2024.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
