In many countries, including South Africa, the underperformance of Physical Sciences learner’s is a great concern. The purpose of this study was to find out how the academic achievement of science learners can be addressed through implementing a parental involvement policy. The policy on parental involvement can only be successful if there is an effort to ensure effective participation of parents in school activities, which includes helping learners with homework, discussing learners’ behaviour with teachers, motivating learners and communicating about and participating in science activities. This was a qualitative research study and the cultural–historical activity theory (CHAT) acted as a lens and offered a broad approach to analysing a parental involvement policy and the contexts of science learning. The research was conducted in rural public secondary schools and data were collected by means of face-to-face interviews. The study recommends that parents need training and development to perform their functions optimally in science activities. Effective communication between parents and the school and providing assistance to child-headed families are imperative.

在包括南非在内的许多国家，物理科学学习者的表现不佳是一个令人严重关注的问题。这项研究的目的是找出如何通过实施父母参与政策来解决理科学习者的学业成就。只有在努力确保父母有效参与学校活动的情况下，有关父母参与的政策才能成功，其中包括帮助学习者进行家庭作业，与老师讨论学习者的行为，激励学习者以及交流和参与科学活动。这是一项定性研究，文化历史活动理论（CHAT）充当了镜头，并提供了广泛的方法来分析父母的参与政策和科学学习的环境。这项研究是在农村公立中学进行的，并通过面对面访谈的方式收集了数据。该研究建议父母需要培训和发展，以在科学活动中最佳地发挥其功能。父母与学校之间必须进行有效的沟通，并为以孩子为首的家庭提供帮助。