The Ministry of Education, in its drive to enlighten parents about the importance of education, will be hosting a workshop targeting vulnerable parents, at Diamond Secondary School, East Bank Demerara. It is part of a countrywide outreach scheduled for the first week of next month and will be followed by a similar initiative at Stella Maris Primary School, in Georgetown, the following week.
A release said, recently, National Parent Teachers Association Coordinator, Ms. Carol Benn met with parents at Uitvlugt Community Centre, West Coast Demerara, where a range of issues, including positive parenting, alternative form of discipline, teenage pregnancy and truancy, were discussed.
At that forum, significant attention was also placed on the dress code and unacceptable behaviour of students, and parents were schooled on ways in which they can be welfare officers, social workers and teachers to their children, the release said.
It said parents were encouraged to build their children’s self-esteem by commending them for being disciplined, polite and taking their studies seriously.
The parents were also urged to set high standards, be good role models to their children and channel their criticisms to the behaviour and not directly to the child.
The release said Benn had used the forum, as well, to call on parents to monitor the behaviour and performance of their children, both in and out of school and will be emphasising the same measures at Diamond Secondary and Stella Maris Primary.
All the efforts are in keeping with more attention being paid to Physical Education, Drama, Dance and Sports in school, towards producing rounded students and leading up to the inauguration of a Students’ Council on June 10.