20 Aug 2015

Poor performance in public schools is not only a concern for the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) but also of different Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs) across the country.

This was said by the National PTA chairperson, Mr Sam Magama in an interview recently.

 He said as a way of trying to improve on the performance, his committee has embarked on partnership activities to connect parents and students in schoolwork and discipline.

Mr Magama said during his term, his committee will raise awareness and sensitise families on education programs and mostly help guide and prepare students for the end of year examinations. He said education in the country needs parental involvement and there is need for increased PTA involvement.

He said as part of the PTA involvement, they will address meetings to encourage parents to collect reports and take part in the evaluation of the results.

“My committee will hold meetings for parents of children in standard four and seven, form three and five and will help their parents to assist the students prepare for their final examinations,” he said.

He said his committee will also mobilise tertiary school students to assist younger students with schoolwork through the Botswana Student Network.

He continued to say apart from its involvement in the academic performance of the students, his committee will engage in campaigns against student pregnancy, substance abuse, indiscipline, crime, bullying and Satanism in public schools.

He observed that PTAs have been part of Botswana’s education system for decades but their efforts have been random and silent on student learning and achievement, while internationally studies have indicated that for many years parental involvement impacted positively on student success.

“Studies have shown that parental involvement in education instills positive attitude and behavior in the students, makes parents have more confidence in the schools and improves teachers’ morale,” he said. Ends