The role of parents in their children’s education is undoubtedly overwhelming and crucial and could never be over emphasised and therefore the recent call by Education Minister Shaik Baksh for parents to play a greater role in this regard is most timely and pertinent.
Too often, but most unfortunately many parents see the education of their children as a total responsibility of teachers and the education system and having no role whatsoever in perhaps the most important aspect of a child’s life because it is education that will prepare him/her to meet the challenges of life and to pursue a successful career.
In those days when not many parents had any level of schooling and the overwhelming majority of them were illiterate, most of them nevertheless paid a keen interest in their children’s schooling and education.  Even though they could not have helped much in their children in their home work/school work they ensured that they studied at home and those who grew in that era will recall parents urging their children on with the popular phrase “go and pick up yuh books.”
Parents in that era also would regularly find out from teachers how their children were doing at school.
Anyone who has been a teacher for a while will testify that many parents have never visited the school(s) their children attended, except perhaps on that day when they registered them at their respective schools.
However, on this note the administrators of schools share some blame   for this because hardly or never any PTA meeting has a component of parents/teachers interaction to discuss issues of children’s education. These meetings are always about collecting money from parents and or about planning and carrying out fund raising activities. This to a large extent serves to discourage parents from attending these meetings which could have been a useful session to engage teachers on how their children are performing and well as discipline and other relevant issues.
But be that as it may be it does not prevent parents from making periodic checks at the school(s) their children are attending as this will help tremendously in getting a better understanding and being more aware of the areas in which their children need help.
From a purely statistical and logical angle undoubtedly the parents have an equal or even greater role in their children’s education because a child spends five hours at school per day for five days per week and 39 weeks during a year, therefore what is inculcated in him/her out of school is difficult, though not impossible, to undo at school.
But frequently many parents unfairly heap all the blame on teachers or the schools, and they may be justifiable in some cases, but surely they need to share much of the blame. What is ironical is that many parents are heard to remark “my child was always bright” when he/she does well at examinations but when a child did badly they say “the teachers and the schools are no good.”
Many students are seen daily wandering at the roadsides and elsewhere long after school hours and one wonders whether parents do not question as to why they reach home so late because it is these seemingly little things that could make the difference with a child.
Another irony is that many parents tell their children bluntly that they cannot afford to buy books and other essentials for their education but those very parents find money to attend these so called “entertainment” shows etc. Nothing is wrong with people have some form of relaxation but certainly if money is scarce then the education of one’s child or children should be a top priority.
Admittedly, parenting is made much more difficult these days because of all the distractions, complexities and cultural penetration from North America in particular. And with respect to the latter it would seem that it is the more negative aspects that are penetrating our society.
However, this is what the experts have to say on the issue: “Nothing helps a child succeed like an involved parent. A little willingness from a child’s parents can work wonders in the classroom. Read on to learn more about your role as a parent in the education of your child.”
“Parents want their children to succeed in school, but a parent’s role in that success must not be underestimated. In school as in life, consistent support from parents is crucial to sustaining a student’s confidence and sense of achievement. Parents play four distinct roles in their child’s education: cheerleader, friend, teacher and enforcer. An understanding of these roles can help you help your child step up to the challenges of learning.”
And parents should always remember the best gift they can give children is a sound education.