Research indicates the positive effects parental involvement can have in reinforcing learners' beliefs about their ability to succeed. In this article, the author explores the nature of parental involvement in children's education in the Republic of the Gambia. The Gambian example reemphasizes the value of parent-school partnerships as a constant and relentless process across cultural and national boundaries. It is an example of official mandates in education that are based on traditional practices of involving the community at the local level for improving the quality of education and care in schools.