This ISG will discuss how a low-cost parental engagement program in Indonesia influenced parent–teacher communication and student learning outcomes.
Event details
Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm WIB // 1:30pm - 3:00pm AEST
Join in-person: McDonald Room, Menzies Library, ANU
Join online: bit.ly/ISG_indonesiaproject
Abstract
Many parents value education but face barriers to supporting children’s learning, including limited information on academic progress, low confidence in engaging with teachers, and uncertainty about how to help at home. In Indonesia, parental involvement often centres on administrative or financial matters despite persistently low student achievement. This study examines whether a low-cost, low-touch intervention embedded within public-school systems can strengthen parental engagement and improve learning outcomes. The intervention was evaluated through a randomised study across 130 public primary schools in Kebumen, Central Java, Indonesia, where teacher capacity is moderate but learning outcomes have stagnated amid relatively high poverty and limited digital resources. The program provided monthly personalised updates on student progress, two-way parent–teacher communication, and practical guides for supporting learning at home. Delivered through existing school systems by teachers and local education officials, it cost less than Rp 15,000 (under USD 1) per student over 14 months. Results show increased parent–teacher communication, parental engagement in learning, and teacher collaboration with families. Parents spent more time supporting learning at home, and younger students showed improved mathematics performance ten months after the intervention ended. However, older students experienced lower reading motivation, suggesting that information alone may be insufficient without additional support to build parents’ confidence in supporting learning, particularly during educational disruption.
Image: https://unsplash.com/@husniatisalma
Event Speakers
Dyah Pritadrajati
Dyah “Prita” Pritadrajati is an applied microeconomist and PhD candidate at ANU. Her research focuses on labour, gender, and social policy in developing countries, with particular interest in household behaviour and economic development. She has worked with international organisations including the World Bank and ADB, and was a Fox Fellow at Yale University.