Foreword

Parental education is a newly coined expression in the science of education. It is an educational activity governed by a psychological reference framework that builds on the parents' perception of child psychology. This perception stems, on the one hand, from the conceptions and ideas developed by parents on the child's growth, aptitudes, capacities, needs and aspirations, and on the other, from their educational practices vis-à-vis the child.

From this purely psychological perspective, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) has undertaken within the compass of this study an analytical investigation of the issue of parental education as it is practised in Muslim countries on the basis of three axes :

A. Characteristics and components : Analytical diagnosis is conducted on the most important principles, determinants and methods of this type of education. Concerning the principles and bases, the diagnosis describes accurately the factors of trust, supervision, control, upbringing and instruction. As for the aims and objectives, the diagnosis addresses the aspects of self-realisation and social adaptation, while it defines the psychological, social, economic and cultural variables in the part concerning factors and determinants. As regards methods and mechanisms, the diagnosis portrays the patterns of weak, severe and flexible practices.

B. Problems and hindrances : They are identified on the basis of two types of parameters :

- The first type concerns the problems and challenges facing parental education practices in Muslim countries, in particular poverty, backwardness, illiteracy, ignorance and erosion of the family role;

- The second type concerns the major handicaps and perceptions which adversely impact on the parental education practices in the Muslim world, in particular the lack of a pedagogy, the absence of a psychological reference framework, and the need for an educational strategy with rigorous objectives and procedures.

C. Suggestions and solutions : Summarized by the Islamic Organisation in three main elements :

- Promotion of equal potentials and opportunities, with emphasis on the importance of education through parents’ educational practice. This implies the adoption of programmes aimed to train parents to fulfil their educational roles.

- Assignment of new educational responsibilities to parents in view of their crucial importance as to the child’s upbringing.

- Provision of the necessary training through purposeful educational strategies aimed to raise the awareness of future parents on their educational roles and responsibilities.

These are the most important issues analysed by the study on the levels of content and aspect in an attempt to identify the nature of parental education practice in the Muslim world and shed light on the core of psychological theory governing this practice. ISESCO invites all researchers and workers in the field of parental education to focus their efforts on this theory because the study of its contents and the analysis of its components are likely to bring about efficient solutions to the problems and impediments precluding this type of education.

I beseech Almighty Allah to make this study beneficial to all those who strive to promote sound, constructive education, and to foster the development and prosperity of our Muslim world. Allah is the source of all success.

Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri
Director General of ISESCO