Vusumuzi Dube
Jobert Ngwenya
Since October 2021, I have been “dangling around” with the idea of an educational podcast series. I managed to script a 12-episode series on school-family engagement in January 2022 and I can only hope for recording soon. The motivation behind the script came from the realisation of a disconnect between families and their secondary school children. In this submission I will try to summarise the “why” and “how” of family involvement in education. I will use the word “family” or “parents” to refer to any persons responsible or answerable for a child at school.
A quick scan on the Grade and Form results from Bulawayo Metropolitan Province shows that the province produces very good results at Grade 7 and one of the worst at Form 4. Without any scientific research but observations and casual conversations, I came to a conclusion that parental involvement at secondary level gradually dies away leading to the disappointing results. Of course this is a narrow view of it but the point is that there is a gap between the school and the parents (at least within the context of my 10-year work life) especially after primary education.
That said, a few more issues arise, as secondary children themselves get more detached from their parents (adolescence at play), on the other hand, parents think they are now mature enough to go by their education. Generally speaking, there is no problem with these notions but they tend to show how skewed our understanding of the purpose of education is.
At this point, highlighting the importance of education is key. Education is essential for children as it helps them develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to succeed in life. Going to school provides children with opportunities to learn how to read, write, and do Maths, which are foundational skills that they will need in almost every aspect of their lives. Additionally, education helps children learn critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills that are necessary for success in their personal and professional lives. Furthermore, school helps children to learn how to work with others, build relationships, and understand different perspectives, all of which are important for building a successful and fulfilling life.
Education provides children with the tools they need to reach their full potential and achieve their goals. A glance at the above paragraph leaves the teacher at the centre of education, relegating the family into a mere spectator. But wait a moment, the community and family plays a crucial role in the purpose of child development as education does not solely occur within the walls of a school; it is an ongoing process that is influenced by a child’s family and community. For example, families provide children with their first teachers and help to shape their attitudes towards learning. Parents and guardians can help to instil values such as the importance of education, the love for learning, and the motivation to succeed in school.
They can also provide support, guidance, and resources to help children succeed in school. An uncaring attitude from the family is more likely to cast negative influences on children thus affecting their learning outcomes.
Without bashing any parent, exploring some of the reasons why families appear uninterested in their children’s education is important. Parents may lack the necessary resources, such as time or money, to support their child’s education. Other parents may not have had positive experiences with school themselves and may not see the value in education. They may feel that their own success was not determined by their education, and as a result, they do not prioritise their child’s education. Some parents may feel disconnected from their child’s education due to a lack of communication or involvement from the school. If a school does not effectively communicate with parents or provide opportunities for them to be involved, parents may feel that they have little impact on their child’s education.
With all these barriers to family engagement with schools and lack of interest in their children’s education, parents and guardians should know that they play a crucial role in their child’s education, and their involvement can significantly impact their child’s success. Research has shown that when parents are actively involved in their child’s education, their children are more likely to have higher grades, better attendance, and a more positive attitude towards learning. It is therefore essential for parents and guardians to understand that their input and involvement in their child’s education are critical to their success. As children move from primary to secondary and high school, their educational needs and challenges may change, and the family can provide support and guidance to help their child navigate these transitions successfully.
As a round up, I present some of the points of action that parents, especially for secondary school children, can take to support and engage in their children’s education. Parents should pay their child’s school fees to show their support and commitment, review their child’s homework and schoolwork to ensure that they are keeping up with their studies and identify any areas where they may need additional support. Establishing a daily routine that includes time for homework, studying, and reading to help their child develop good study habits and prioritise their education is also important.
Duties and responsibilities should be to the effect that they do not burden the child such that they are unable to do their schoolwork.
Consultation days are an excellent opportunity for parents to meet with their child’s teacher, discuss their child’s academic progress, learn about their strengths and areas for improvement as well as get to know what additional resources the child may need. Before attending a consultation day, parents should prepare a list of questions to ask the teacher and bring along any relevant schoolwork or test results.
During the meeting, parents should listen actively to the teacher’s feedback and ask follow-up questions to gain a better understanding of their child’s progress. After that, parents should discuss the feedback with their child and work together to set learning goals for the upcoming term.
Volunteering at the school is a great way for parents to get involved in their child’s education and support their school community as well as show interest in their child’s education. Parents can volunteer to help with classroom activities, assist with school events, donate material or equipment to the school, attend their child’s sporting activities, or chaperone field trips.
Volunteering also provides an opportunity for parents to get to know their child’s teachers and school staff, which can help to build a positive relationship and facilitate communication. Because of the general disconnect between the school and the family, to find out about volunteering opportunities, parents can be proactive and reach out to their child’s teachers or school administration. Of course where more engagement exists, an elaborate calendar of events will always be known to the parents.
Lastly, communication between parents and teachers is crucial to ensure that children are receiving the learning support they need. Parents can communicate with their child’s teacher by attending consultation days, sending emails or messages, or scheduling meetings. When communicating with teachers, parents should be respectful, clear, and concise. They should share their concerns or questions about their child’s learning progress and ask for advice on how to support their child’s learning at home and what resources they can provide for the child. Regular communication with teachers can help parents stay informed about their child’s progress and enable them to address any concerns or issues promptly. A parent who shows interest and concern for their child’s education is more likely to increase the teacher’s attention to that child too, remember some of our classes have more than 45 students, the parental interest might be the only trigger to attract the teacher’s attention to the child!
As a society, we must acknowledge the role of families and communities in supporting our children’s education. Schools need to create an environment where parents and guardians feel empowered to engage in their child’s education and are aware of the resources available to them (I will likely pursue this thought further in the coming weeks). There are several practical steps that parents can take to show commitment to their children’s education such as attending consultation days, volunteering at school, communicating with teachers, paying school fees and levies, as well as providing educational resources. It’s time to recognise that education is a collective responsibility, and it takes the efforts of parents, teachers, school administrators, policymakers, and the community to ensure every child has access to quality education. Together, we can help our children reach their full potential and build a brighter future for our communities and our nation.
Jobert Ngwenya is an award winning educator, Fulbright TEA Fellow, National Geographic Education Grantee, author, and academic audio content creator. He holds a Master of Arts in Development Studies (MSU) Bachelor of Arts (UZ) and Post Graduate Diploma in Education (ZOU). He can be contacted by email on [email protected]
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