04 Feb 2020

Schools cannot attain desired results without Parents’ input in their children’s education.

Ms Bogadi Sephobe, a parent to one of the pupils at Rutwang Junior Secondary School in Tonota said this in an interview recently following the school’s motivation session for current form three students.

She said in order to achieve a knowledge-based economy, parents should work in unison with the school, as education is crucial to the future of a child.

Ms Sephobe said that parental support was very important in a child’s education and that when a parent is not involved, the child’s school performance declined.

She said this era required parents more than ever to be involved in their academics and life matters.

The parent said that their involvement motivates children, hence the importance for parents to work closely with teachers to help in their children’s education.

“Our children have different personalities, for home and for school. 

We need to assist teachers and keep in touch with them to know how our children behave and perform at school,” she said.

She also said that it was important to know and monitor a child’s activities on daily basis, to know what they learn at school, and to understand how they feel.

Ms Sephobe advised parents who do not support students due to lack of knowledge to keep in touch with teachers to understand their children’s academic work and to be in a better position to assist them with their homework.

She said since charity began at home, parents should relate with their children, be involved in molding admirable youngsters to grow up into responsible adults.

The School’s PTA secretary, Ms Christinah Ralebala concurred that parental support led to better achievements in a pupil’s life and that it required parents, teachers and pupils to work as a unit.

Ms Ralebala said communication between home and school helps teachers get to know the pupil better, which in turn enables the teacher to teach students more effectively.

However, she said that the community often blamed teachers for pupils’ declining performances, when in reality there is a natural incapability if parents are not mindful of their obligations.

She further said that parents should show support of their children’s education at home by checking if the child does homework, understands and writes school notes.

For early detection of problems, she encouraged parents to attend school meetings and once in a while check in school to see the progress of the child.

Junior Certificate Examinations (JCE) 2019 top achiever, Amantle Pheage also urged parents to be involved in their children’s education.

The 16-year-old said although her mother was always busy to regularly attend school meetings, she has always been supportive at home by ensuring that her school work was always done well.

Ms Pheage said another reason why she was able to ace her JCE was because even though her mother cared for her, she always encouraged her teachers to instill discipline.

“At first I thought she did not love me enough to encourage my teachers to beat me, but as time went on I understood why she did it and that it was for my own best. 

That is absolutely love of a parent, “she said.

Ms Pheage also noted that aiming higher for her was never impossible with her parents’ support and that parents should get involved to motivate their children in being and doing exceedingly well.

She also advised pupils who do not get support of their parents, who have a lack of resources and live in uncomfortable environments to study, to focus on a broader picture of where they want to be in their lives and garner motivation to do so. ENDS