Researchers at Frontiers in Education conducted focus groups with parents, teachers, and students from primary to secondary levels to understand what parent engagement actually means in practice. The study moved beyond the typical checklist of activities to explore the feelings, thoughts, and relationships that shape how parents support their child's education.
The research involved participants across different school levels, examining engagement from multiple perspectives rather than assuming parents, teachers, and students all define it the same way.
Engagement is both what you do and how you think
The study identified two key dimensions. Multidimensional Parent Engagement (MMPE) includes your genuine interest in your child's progress, your belief that education matters, and how you communicate about school—not just attending events or completing homework tasks. Equally important is recognizing Parent Disaffection (MMPD): when parents feel disconnected from school, lose motivation, or believe their input doesn't matter.
Importantly, engagement and disaffection aren't opposites on a simple scale. A parent might attend every school event yet feel internally unmotivated. Another might be deeply interested in learning but struggle with time constraints or language barriers at school. The researchers found this complexity is often overlooked when schools measure engagement by attendance alone.
Why parent disaffection deserves attention too
The study highlights that disaffection is understandable and worth recognizing rather than ignoring. For busy families—a common reality in Singapore and across Asia—feeling disconnected from school doesn't necessarily mean you don't care about your child's education. It can stem from work demands, feeling unheard by teachers, or uncertainty about how to help. When parents experience disaffection, children pick up on this disconnect, affecting their own relationship with learning.
The research also found that parents, teachers, and students often hold different perspectives on what engagement looks like. In cultures where respect for educators runs deep, honest feedback may be held back, leaving misunderstandings unaddressed.
Shift your focus beyond the activities
- Examine your genuine beliefs about education and whether your child senses authentic interest when discussing school, not just obligation.
- Acknowledge if you feel disconnected from your child's school or teachers, and consider what specific barriers (time, communication, feeling unheard) might be creating distance.
- Initiate honest conversations with your child's school about what engagement means to both parties, moving beyond assumptions about what 'involvement' should look like.