Published Paper Details:

The adolescents 'ability to navigate higher education successfully depends not only on academic knowledge but also on social intelligence, which enables them to manage relationships, adapt to new environments, and cope with academic pressures. Parents are the primary influence in shaping these social and emotional skills during adolescence. This study examines how parental influence affects social intelligence among higher secondary students and its implications for readiness for higher education. The study was conducted with 50 student-parent pairs (total N = 100) from Marthoma Higher Secondary School, Valakom, using structured questionnaires to assess parental influence and students' social intelligence. Data were analyzed using percentage analysis to determine levels of parental influence and Pearson's correlation coefficient to explore the relationship between parenting and social intelligence. The results indicate that 52% of students and 58% of parents reported a high level of parental influence. The correlation between parental influence and social intelligence was positive and statistically significant (r = 0.29, p < 0.05), suggesting that supportive parenting contributes meaningfully to the development of social competence. While the correlation is moderate, the findings underscore the importance of parental guidance, emotional support, and collaboration between home and school in preparing students for higher education challenges. Based on these results, the study recommends structured parental engagement, social intelligence training, and life-skill programmes within schools to enhance empathy, communication, and interpersonal skills. These initiatives can strengthen students' social competence and better equip them for academic and social demands in higher education. The study also highlights areas for further research, including examining the impact of parenting in different cultural and educational contexts.