Vol. 11, No. 2 (2016) 450-461, ISSN: 1823-884x ENHANCING STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN ISLAMIC STUDIES VIA PARENTAL INVOLVEMENTS IN NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA Aliyu Yunus & Mohd. Isa Hamzah ABSTRACT Islamic Studies or Islamic Education has become one of major subjects learnt by Muslim students in various secondary schools in Nigeria in general and North-Central Nigeria in particular. Less attention is given to empowering students’ academic performance in Islamic Studies specifically through parental involvements in secondary schools in North-Central part of Nigeria. This paper primarily aims at examining an empowerment of students’ academic performance in Islamic Studies specifically through parental involvement in the North-Central Nigeria. The paper uses quantitative research and questionnaire is being used as instrument for data collection. The population is drawn among secondary school students while a sample 100 respondents was conveniently selected. The validity and reliability of the instrument is also established through the opinions o f experts and the report of Cronbach’Alpha for internal consistency of the instrument is also established respectively. For data analysis, SPSS version 23.0 is being used. The findings of the paper anticipate that the majority of the respondents strongly believe that their parental involvements especially in the aspects of education, occupation and income are culminated factors towards empowering students on their academic performances in Islamic Studies. In conclusion, it is vitally paramount that for better performance in Islamic Studies by the students of various secondary schools in the North-Central Nigeria, the parents’ involvement should not be underrated. It is thereby recommended that both the schools and home should play a collaborative effort towards helping the students to maximally perform well in Islamic Studies in particular and other subjects in general. Keywords: Parental participation, Islamic Studies, academic performance, Islamic education, INTRODUCTION Parental involvement in students’ academic performance has been regarded as one of tools used to determine or measure the success of learners. Hafiz et.al, (2013) explained that Parents have a crucial role to play in the academic performance of their children since the success of children associated with parental participation. Parents are the first educators for the upbringing of children and they should take good care of them by equipping and preparing them for the future challenges. (Abdullah Nasih Ulwan, 1988). It is the prime duty of parents is to encourage and guide the children in order to become a successful person in the society. Henderson & Mapp (2002) & (Hill and Craft, (2003) shown that, parents play a great contribution in the school, home, and community where parental involvement has linked with the higher achievements of children in social skill. More so, the performance of learners via parental participation enhancing