Identifying Parents' lived Experiences of Trusting Non-Governmental Schools

: Sometimes, due to physical, emotional, social, and cultural conditions, parents separate their children from the normal students of government schools and enroll them in non-government schools. Their children can easily continue their education there which creates their trust in nongovernmental schools. This study aimed to identify the causes and factors affecting parents’ trust based on their lived experiences in non-governmental schools.

The research design is a phenomenological qualitative type. The study population consisted of all parents of primary, secondary, and high school students of nongovernmental schools for boys and girls in the five areas of Tabriz city; 18 parents were selected as members of the sample group for determining the sample by using criterion purposeful sampling method. The research tool was a semi-structured interview. To provide its face and content validity, external experts' judgment, and the researcher's avoidance of any bias in presenting questions were used; for reliability, appropriate goal selection methods, the same guide questions, and continuation of interviews to the theoretical saturation stage were used. An evaluation was also used by participants and external reviewers to ensure the reliability of the findings.

The results indicated the extraction of six factors which include educational, social, ethical and moral, professional, economic, and equipment and facilities; after Collaizi’s analysis with 85 semantic units (open sources) in 25 sub-categories of 15 categories with 6 main themes were obtained. Reasons and criteria that led the parents’ trust to enroll their children in non-governmental schools have been discussed. Categories such as educational and training planning, observing the quantity and appropriateness of students, employing experienced and specialized teachers, homogeneity and cultural, social and economic quality of students, satisfaction with school services, good reputation, and good record, observance of rules and moral education, creating a happy safe atmosphere, committed interaction and professional attitude of school officials, obtaining appropriate and fair tuition are the main reasons for parents' inclination to non-governmental schools. As a result, schools focusing more and more on professionalism and considering the concerns of parents instead of the interests of school owners are considered the main reasons for parents' trust in these schools.