Connecting the dots: Effective leadership to enhance parental engagement in a multicultural primary school in Malta

Abstract

This study, conducted in a multicultural primary school in Malta, aimed to connect the dots between educators, students and parents who comprise a school community. The goal of this study was to recognize that parents should be an integral part of school leadership and to investigate how they can be involved in their children’s education. The research used a mixed methodology, mainly focus groups with Maltese and non-Maltese parents, and aimed to understand how to assist educational leaders in enhancing parental engagement within a multicultural school whilst creating positive intercultural interactions. Interviews with educational experts in Malta were then used to validate the findings. The results showed that leaders play a critical role in promoting parental engagement by creating relationships with them based on effective communication, cultural awareness and cultural intelligence. In turn, this promotes the development of a positive multicultural community at school. Finally, this study suggests the need of designing policies to promote an intercultural education framework which will go beyond simply coexisting and onto developing equal educational opportunities for all students in a culturally-receptive school environment.