Parents play an essential role in the school system, from providing emotional and physical support to helping ensure their children are receiving an education that meets their needs. Parents have a strong influence on their children. They have a direct influence that is stronger than that of teachers, friends, and media. The importance of parents in a child’s education is undeniable. Parent involvement in a child’s education has a positive effect on their success. When parents are involved in their child’s education, they are successful in school, have higher self-esteem, have better attendance, and be more motivated to learn. Parent involvement also benefits in creating a more supportive learning environment, which leads to better academic performance. Parents play an important role in their child’s education, and it is important for them to stay involved and supportive. By taking an active role in their child’s education, parents help ensure their child’s success in school and beyond. Parents can help their children by participating in school functions or obligations, advocating for the school, and improving their children’s schoolwork. The stronger the relationship between parental involvement and children’s education, the more likely children are to achieve better grades and score higher on tests. While teachers play a huge role in the social and academic development of children, studies has overwhelmingly shown just how powerful parental involvement in education is at school, but especially at home. Parents want what’s best for their children. By getting more involved in their education, parents can directly impact their child’s success in school and beyond.
Benefits of Parental Involvement:
1. Parent Involvement Leads to Reduced Absenteeism
2. It Promotes Better Behavior
3. Increased Student Achievement
4. Parent Involvement Improves Parent and Teacher Satisfaction. Successful parent involvement entails active and continuous participation in the children’s education.
5. Some parents may not have any experience in getting involved in their children’s academics. They’ll need direction on where to start and tips on how to get involved in a way that benefits the child.
6. Academic activities that get the parent involved such as collaborative homework are great.
7. Personalization is important in encouraging parents to be involved in their children’s education.
“From offering child care, clubs and other multiple opportunities schools can show their genuine interest in receiving parent input. Parental involvement fund must be made transparent to parents. Parental involvement is a journey that cannot be bought but has to be nurtured and cultivated over time with care, trust, and patience.”
Obstacles That Can Come in the Way of Successful Parent Involvement: There is always a difference in perception about
parental involvement. Teachers perceive that parents do not want to be involved and parents, on the other hand, don’t know how to get involved. There is a strong disconnect that exists because of various reasons- Lack of time, communication barriers, the experience of parents with their own schooling, the inability of the school to reach out to the parents, and much more. More often than not these reasons become the key factor for children “slipping through the cracks”. The survey believes that a lack of knowledge of spoken English also deters parents from being involved. A supportive and positive school culture will boost academic achievement and reduce a lot of surrounding problems. Schools must educate teachers and other personnel about reaching out to parents to work equally. Schools must also offer parents resources and materials to work with their children. Schools must also assist parents to understand the academic standards, child’s progress, and collaborating with teachers to improve standards and achievements. Parental involvement is crucial to foster this culture. Till What Extent Should Parental Involvement Be Made? Most parent involvement programs develop as a response to a specific issue or need that arises in the school or community. Parent involvement programs cannot be bespoke or a “one size fits all” prototype. What works for one school may not work for another. Teachers are often not very forthcoming in involving parents in hiring processes, planning curriculum, and choosing books due to lack of expertise. In a nutshell, the successful parent-school partnership must not be for addressing one particular issue or an add-on program. Most parent-school partnership and involvement programs must be aligned with the vision and mission of the school. Programs must be developed collaboratively with parents and must reflect the needs, interests, and issues of the school, parents, and children. From offering child care, clubs and other multiple opportunities schools can show their genuine interest in receiving parent input. Parental involvement fund must be made transparent to parents. Parental involvement is a journey that cannot be bought but has to be nurtured and cultivated over time with care, trust, and patience.
(The author is a teacher with J&K School Education Department. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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