Parental Involvement as Community Factors Plays Major Role in Primary Education in Marshallese: Case Study of Majuro Atoll

Abstract

This study aims to examine the way parents are involved with their children and related factors affecting parents’ involvement in primary education in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). This study uses qualitative analysis based on case studies by conducting semi-structured interviews with 11 Marshallese individuals who have or had elementary children or relatives and are considered highly skilled people (employed in any field) in Majuro, the capital atoll of the RMI. This study finds that the community factors based on their culture, such as mutual assistance and family obligation, strongly affected other factors. Although most of the interviewees valued educational achievement and were actively involved with their children, many Marshallese value education and involvement with children less because of mutual assistance. Obligation of mutual assistance includes things like supporting one another by spending money on extended family, such as on food and expenses. In the RMI, education is a factor in making better relationships within the family lineage, as employment and higher wages has an effect on the form of assistance and repayment.