… Education Ministry urges Bartica parents

PARENTS in Bartica were urged to play an integral role in the development of their children’s education when the Education Ministry recently held a town hall meeting at the Bartica Secondary School in Region Seven.

During the forum, National Parent- Teacher Association Coordinator Nadia Hollingsworth, called on parents to play a more active role in their children’s education.
Stating that while there are parents who rise to the occasion, she said there are others who can do much more to advance their children’s education.

Based on observations by her department, the Education Ministry opted to visit the region to lend support and guidance in an effort to foster greater collaboration between the parents, the school and the ministry.

“We, at the ministry, recognise that no one group can do this alone,” she posited. Further, Hollingsworth said that if all parties involved in the process work collaboratively, more can be achieved.

“We are all in this together, it is not we and them, it is us; without parents there would have been no children to teach,” she said. The former teacher said the school is as strong as the parental support it receives, and in this regard, she reminded those gathered to understand their responsibilities and be receptive to sharing them.

The coordinator noted that she was not ‘having a go at parents. However, it is important that all concerned be candid about the current state of affairs.

“Do not allow your children to be the victims of your circumstances, not because you are not familiar with a particular subject matter the child presents to you, you cannot assist,” she said.

Hollingsworth encouraged parents to approach the schools for assistance so that they can in turn assist the child at home. It is in this context that she advised teachers to facilitate this process and implored them to foster good relationship with parents.

“Teachers, look past the issues and help that child to succeed,” the national PTA coordinator said, noting that teachers should endeavour to be different and go the extra mile to assist the nation’s youths.

Added to that she said it is fallacious to believe that good performing children only come from ‘top-rated’ schools. Rather, she has seen children from other schools performing outstandingly and it is parental involvement which is a vital ingredient for a successful outcome.

Assistant Regional Executive Officer (AREO) Stephie Allen said parents should not allow their children to merely sail along at school. “Engage them to know what is going on at school,” Allen urged.

The AREO said there is much to be achieved should all parents adopt a more robust approach towards their children’s education.

Ena Hernades, a parent said many times it is only the teacher and the child. She charged some parents ‘to stand up and be counted’. On the other hand, the parent was in praise for those parents who she surmised go the extra mile to assist their children and their school.

Tirani Gahill, a teacher in her contribution to the meeting, said she is concerned about the smartphones some children carry. Gahill said they are becoming a hindrance to the learning process. Towards this end, she called on parents to better supervise the use of these devices.

For the past months, the ministry has been holding town hall meetings across the 11 education districts, explaining the importance of parental involvement in education and the critical role parents are expected to play in this initiative.