Parental Educational Aspiration and Commodification in International Primary Education: The Case of Ghana
Mary Boatemaa Setrana, Justice Richard Kwabena Owusu Kyei und Elizabeth Koomson Yalley
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Mary Boatemaa Setrana, Justice Richard Kwabena Owusu Kyei, Elizabeth Koomson Yalley, Parental Educational Aspiration and Commodification in International Primary Education: The Case of Ghana (16.03.2026), Beltz Juventa, 69469 Weinheim, ISSN: 1436-1957, 2025 #4, S.272
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Beschreibung / Abstract
In what ways are parents motivated to school their children in international educational systems? First, this paper examines the educational aspirations of Ghanaian emigrant parents in schooling their left-behind children in international schools in Ghana. Secondly, it investigates the educational aspiration of affluent parents in schooling their children in international schools. Lastly, it examines how international schools commodify education to meet the educational aspirations of migrant parents and affluent parents in this globalised economy. The present study contributes to an understanding of transnational education and transnational migration literature. We employ 40 in-depth interviews and 10 focus group discussions with parents and experts such as head teachers to unravel their lived experiences. We find that prestige, self-actualisation and social networking by parents and children alike motivate parents to school their children in international schools in spite of the huge financial cost involved. The curricula and extracurricular activities in the international school setting empower children to build self-confidence and self-esteem. In conclusion, parental aspirations on international education move beyond economic successes to include social and cultural practices available in the schools to construct childhood identities. From the data, the commodification of education enhances efficiency and innovative ways of engaging pupils in school.