THE Ministry of Education, through the National Parent/ Teachers Association (PTA) Coordinator, Carol Benn, will soon commence a series of parent awareness sessions throughout the country, targeting depressed communities with the aim to enlighten parents of their role in their children’s education.
Benn said that the campaign, which will begin at the Ann’s Grove Secondary School this week, seeks to get poor and vulnerable parents to understand the importance of educating and supporting their children and the need to inculcate in them values of tolerance, respect and good citizenship.
She noted that the sessions will be conducted by seasoned experts who will speak on a range of issues including the implications of illegal drugs, teenage pregnancy, alcohol abuse, and physical and verbal abuse, among the other ills that plague the society, as well as the importance of maintaining good hygiene.
They will also be informed about the programmes and policies of the Ministry of Education to tackle these and other issues relevant to the education sector.
Benn also pointed out that apart from the community meetings with parents, some schools have started parent conferencing and it is expected that teachers at all schools will meet with parents at least twice per year to brief them on their children’s performance and behaviour.
She noted that a circular on this subject has been sent out to all schools, and checks will be made with the Regional Education Officers to ensure teachers meet with parents to discuss these important matters.
Benn stressed that these developments are in keeping with the Ministry of Education’s thrust to forge a more vibrant working relationship between parents and schools, through the PTAs, to ensure students are closely monitored, remain motivated, focused and results-oriented.
This year, the PTA Coordinator has been able to resuscitate two dormant PTAs and establish two regional PTA bodies in the drive to get parents more involved in their children’s education.
Benn, along with senior Ministry of Education officials, last month convened a parent symposium aimed at getting them to pay a keener interest not only in their children’s education, but also their behaviour both in and out of school.
In addition, numerous awareness sessions were held throughout the country to educate parents on sound parenting skills.
According to Benn, these initiatives have stimulated an interest in parents and more of them are beginning to pay more serious attention to their children’s education.
She also noted that currently a desk manual on parent education programmes is being developed and when this is completed, it will be of great help to them.
Education Minister Shaik Baksh has repeatedly emphasized that the desired success of the Ministry will not be achieved unless parents give their unstinting support to ensure that their children receive a quality education.
Baksh pointed out that his ministry has been making concerted efforts to create more child-friendly classrooms in the school system, and it is time that more parents begin to make their homes more child-friendly by playing a more active role in their children’s education.
Baksh said the Schools’ Welfare Department, through the Guidance and Counselling officers, the School’s Welfare officers, and the Parent/Teacher Association Coordinator has been working aggressively throughout the country to get parents to understand the value of education.
He stressed that the message has been “catching on”, and the Ministry, will not rest until all parents recognize and embrace the importance of education to their children’s development as well as the development of the country.
The minister noted that the Ministries of Health, Labour, Human Services and Social Security; Local Government; and Amerindian Affairs, along with international agencies such as the PAHO/ WHO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO and several local non-governmental organizations, have come on board in support of the work of the Ministry.
On that point, he said that the time is ripe for parents to get more involved in their children’s education, more than ever before, and underscored that the Ministry of Education remains steadfastly committed to working in the best interest of the nations’ children.
Parents, he said, can also do simple things to improve the outcomes of their children in the classroom, such as reading to them, making sure that they do their homework and attend school regularly and punctually, and by monitoring their behaviour both in and out of school.