Children perform better and become more productive citizens when parents get involved in the education process. This is according to Coordinator of the National Parent Teachers Association, Ms. Nadia Hollingsworth. “Our Parents’ active roles in their child’s school life is critical and we need you…please come on board,” said Hollingsworth.
Her advice was, “It is not only about raising funds; we are asking for your networking to make the education process more manageable and successful.”
The PTA Coordinator’s views were mirrored by Deputy Chief Education Officer (DCEO), Donna Chapman to parents at the Bartica Secondary School during a Parents and Heads of Departments’ consultation.
A grandparent endorses the Ministry’s call for parents’ involvement.
“I encourage you, parents, to support the Ministry of Education’s work understanding that it takes a village to raise a child,” Ms. Chapman reminded.
Further, the parents were advised of the importance of visiting the school and engaging the teachers … “not in ‘cuss outs’ but in conversations.”
Noting that the Ministry of Education has started to see improvements since the Maths Intervention process began, Ms. Chapman advised that parents are integral to the Ministry of Education’s continued efforts to improve education nationally.
The parents were told that educating a child is not a job that is only for the teacher. The parents were admonished to remember that parents are equally important to the education process because it would aid in making their children productive citizens that will benefit the country in the future.
Ms. Chapman also noted that attendance and punctuality were two sore points. She said, “let us become part of the education process, children must be at school on time”.
As part of the Regional Education Officers interface with parents in Bartica, Region Seven, Ms. Chapman explained that aside from gathering to work out and assess policy implementation nationally, “We are here as regional education officers because we are concerned about your children performing poorly. Parents, we implore you to understand that your children perform better when they have your support. It is not the job of the teachers only.”
She encouraged the parents gathered to support the Ministry of Education in Region Seven so that education can improve in the region and by extension Guyana at large. “The days of parents believing that teachers are the only educators must come to an end if the nation is to develop with more rounded progressive and productive citizens,” she added.