This study was designed to identify the relationship between school-parents cooperation in enhancing Indian parents' involvement in their child's education. A hundred and fifty Indian students who were studying in National Type Tamil Schools in the district of Kerian, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia were randomly chosen based on stratified random sampling. The sample comprised 50 students from Year Three, 50 students from Year Four and 50 students from Year Five. Structured interviews were conducted with the respondents. Questionnaires were used by the researcher to obtain quantitative data related to the school-parents partnership and the parents' involvement strategies implemented for their child's education. The findings of this study indicate a moderate relationship in school-parents partnership in enhancing Indian parents' involvement in their child's education. The more the parents feel welcome at school, the higher their involvement in their child's education. The parents also show higher involvement when the school is cooperative in discussing their child. In addition, findings also indicate that parents are more involved in their child's education when the parents are kept informed about the meetings, activities and events that they have to attend.

This study examines the interethnic adaptation and friendship patterns of students in the Malaysian Vision School setting. A total of 541 primary students from 11 schools within five different Vision School complexes participated in this study. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from the students. Findings of friendship patterns indicate that students are more inclined towards their own ethnicity rather than students from different ethnic groups. In terms of adaptation, students prefer and choose to befriend others within their own ethnicity. It is clear that the strong preference for in-group friendship thereby draws boundaries and creates social distance among students.

Abstrak: Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti kerjasama antara pihak sekolah dan ibu bapa dalam meningkatkan penglibatan ibu bapa India dalam pendidikan anak. Sebanyak 150 murid India yang sedang belajar di Sekolah Kebangsaan di daerah Kerian, Perak Darul Ridzuan dipilih menggunakan persampelan rawak berlapis. Sampel ini terdiri daripada 50 murid dari Tahun Tiga, 50 murid dari Tahun Empat dan 50 murid dari Tahun Lima. Soal selidik telah digunakan oleh penyelidik untuk memperoleh data kuantitatif daripada ibu bapa murid berkaitan dengan kerjasama pihak sekolah-ibu bapa dan strategistrategi penglibatan ibu bapa dalam pendidikan anak mereka. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa terdapat hubungan yang signifikan dalam kerjasama pihak sekolah-ibu bapa dalam meningkatkan penglibatan ibu bapa India dalam pendidikan anak mereka. Lebih tinggi ibu bapa berasa bahawa kedatangan mereka ke sekolah dihargai oleh pihak sekolah, lebih tinggi pula penglibatan mereka dalam pendidikan anak. Ibu bapa juga menunjukkan penglibatan yang lebih tinggi dalam pendidikan anak apabila pihak sekolah bekerjasama dalam membincangkan hal-hal berkaitan anak mereka. Tambahan lagi, hasil kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa ibu bapa menunjukkan penglibatan yang lebih tinggi dalam pendidikan anak apabila ibu bapa terus dimaklumkan tentang mesyuaratmesyuarat, aktiviti-aktiviti dan program-program yang perlu dihadiri oleh ibu bapa di sekolah.

No abstract

Financial hardship has been documented as one of the most common issues faced by single mothers in many parts of the world. Therefore, studies on the financial well-being of a single mother are important to undertake as it determines the living standard of their households. This study explores the financial wellbeing of divorced single mothers in the state of Penang and its impact on the livelihood of single mothers and their families. This study employs a simple qualitative method via interviews. The respondents are chosen based on their willingness to participate in the study and that they fulfill specific criteria. The interviews have been carried out with fifteen working age divorced single mothers to identify the available sources of income including salary, wages, child support and other possible financial assistance. The findings indicate that most of the single mothers encounter financial hardships in their lives. This is probably due to their low level of education attainment which is the common enabler for well-paid jobs and also based on the number of dependents in their households. Moreover, we find that only four of the respondents receive child support from the father of their children. In the midst of increasing living cost, the financial wellbeing of these single mothers is in questions and, their ability to save for the rainy days are far reaching.