By: Tajamul Naseem Lone
The purpose of writing this article is to motivate parents (particularly of students enrolled in government schools) to get involved in child’s education from early childhood. Being a teacher for more than 10 years now, I realized that the role of parents and school is a mutually complimentary relationship. The role of a parent is directly proportional to the success of a child. Teacher alone can do nothing without the support of parents. A main point behind the success of private school students is cent percent parent involvement.
A kid’s education starts from home. Parents are their first teachers and they have a key role in shaping up their character. A balance of education at home and school moulds a student’s actual learning. Active participation in the education of their child is necessary, as it extends learning beyond the walls of the classroom. Children feel more confident in their outlook towards classroom learning, and active participation on part of parents gives them an incentive to learn better. Also, this close proximity makes the child more confident and happier. Parental involvement and academic achievement are directly proportional to each other. Schools with enthusiastic parents involve, engage, and communicate with them which incorporates them in the learning process. This has a positive impact on the academic and overall achievement levels of the child.
Parents involvement in early childhood education is not only important, but can extend the experience of a child in all aspects such as social, emotional and mental. Involved parents can make a positive and lasting impact on their child’s learning ability. When children experience early quality learning and care, their short-term cognition boosts and they develop socially and emotionally. Similarly, it would also help in long-term success in academics and later life.A child who is stimulated correctly or is moulded in a proper way till the age of is likely to perform better and do well in the long run. The child is more likely to perform better academically and lead a healthier and more productive life as an adult. The first five years are crucial in a child’s development process, particularly being receptive to human contact.
Parents must actively participate in their child’s school assignments. They should be aware of how their child is progressing in school. The online grading portals, report cards, and the school progress reports provide parents a pretty good picture of the student’s performance – grades, attendance, behaviour, and evaluation of the teacher.
Parental involvement can be aptly described as the active and ongoing participation of a parent or primary caregiver in the education process of their child. The relationship between the school and parents mutually complementary relationship, House is the source of the most important components of the school (students). School dealing with students with education, parents are responsible for the level grades for their children, because they enrich the lives of their children cultural, by means of various knowledge and contributing to the development of intelligent child, and family encourage the child and increase the motivation to teach, and responsible for providing the appropriate conditions. Parent and school’s each bring unique strengths to education of children. They are a team. They each have strengths, weaknesses-neither of our can do the job alone. The role of parents in school life is a vital issue, therefore requires schools to engage and collaborate with parents to improve on school success.
As per various researches conducted time and again it is evident that student achievement increases when parents get involved (Harris et al, 1987). Increased achievement in test result, decrease in dropout rate, improved attendance and student behaviour, improved parent teacher (Gillum, 1977; Rich, Vandien&Mallox, 1980). There is a marvellous increase in academic achievement, better classroom behaviour, conduct, greater self-esteem, increased motivation and attitude towards school, low rate of absenteeism, increased school satisfaction, and increased school climate (Balli, Wedman& Demo, 1997; Bryan & Sullivan-Burnstein, 1998; Griffith, 1996; Russel& Reece, 2000). Parents must be involved in the school decision-making process, governance, and advocacy through PTA/PTO, school councils committees, and other parent organizations. Schools have the responsibilities to work in partnership with businesses, agencies and other groups to coordinate resources, and provide services to the school and the community (Epstein, Coates, Salinas, Sanders & Simon, 1997; US Department of Education, 1997).
The U.S. Department of Education, 2004) illustrated that when school, family, or community-related barriers limit parents from becoming involved, the consequences might affect student’s academic achievement. Strategies for overcoming barriers to parental involvement in school include overcoming time and resource constraints, providing information and training to parents and school staff, restructuring schools to support family involvement, bridging school-family differences getting external supports for partnership, meeting families basic needs, providing flexible times and places for parents involvement, and helping staff communication with parents (The U.S. Department of education, 2004; Family Involvement in Children’s Education-October, 1997).
(NSPRA, 2004) suggested ideas include creating a formal policy including specific goals for parents and teachers working together, identifying barriers that are specific to the school and its culture, assessing, evaluating and improving the current programs, and involving community at large. Schools must encourage parents to support their children’s learning by making them feel welcome in the school. Schools should also involve parents in the process of attaining the goals related to student’s success (Jesse, 2009).
When parents are keenly involved in their children’s education, the children are more likely to perform better in school. By bringing parents into the educational process schools provide the opportunity to enrich school programs. Effective approaches to parental involvement will build positive relationships and trust between the school and families, healthy child development, and safe school environment. Parental involvement programs should be developed to meet the unique needs of the school and the community.
However, parents need to be informed and guided by the school on parental involvement activities. Many professionals agree that it is the responsibility of the school to make the first move in reaching out to families to involve them in education. Therefore, it is important that parents and guardians become aware of the significant contributions they can make to their children’s success by providing a stimulating environment and also supporting them at home during their early years, as well as secondary and tertiary years of schooling. Schools must encourage parents to visit the school and make it through parent-teacher meetings, Parents Day, Invitations, falcitation of most involved parents on special occasions, open virtual sessions with parents, training sessions for parents, newsletters for parents, and communicate with parents via the Internet on the school site and their views on various educational issues, and provide them with information about educational attainment of their children and involving them in the development of educational plans.
The writer is a Teacher at HSS DangiwachaRafiabad. tajamulnaseem@gmail.com
