"Education is a shared commitment between dedicated teachers, motivated students, and enthusiastic parents with high expectations." - Bob Beauprez

This quintessential quote emphasises education as teamwork, where each party plays its role optimally to achieve the best outcomes.

Engaging parents in the educational journey is crucial for cultivating a supportive learning atmosphere that promotes student achievement. When parents participate actively, they emphasise the significance of education at home, laying a solid groundwork for both academic and personal growth. Collaborative efforts between schools and parents help to close gaps, ensuring that students benefit from continuous encouragement and support.

Here are a few ways how educational institutions can involve and engage parents meaningfully:

Parental engagement in a child's education starts at home, where parents create a safe and nurturing environment. This includes offering suitable learning experiences, providing support, and fostering a positive outlook towards school. Schools can involve them for:

1. Volunteering activities such as group reading, art projects, etc., that can help them understand the daily learning environment.

2. Schools can invite parents as guest speakers to share their thoughts, views, perspectives, and expertise on varied topics.

3. Additionally, Schools can nominate parent representatives by selecting individuals who are actively involved, approachable, and willing to represent the interests of all parents. This process may involve elections or voluntary sign-ups, ensuring diverse representation from different grade levels. These parent representatives can be made part of the school decision-making team where they act as liaisons between the school administration and the parent community, addressing concerns, facilitating communication, and encouraging parental involvement in school activities. By fostering collaboration, they help strengthen the school’s connection with families, creating a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.

4. Schools can promote parent engagement by assigning home projects that involve parental participation, such as constructing a model or researching online to complete an experiment.

Students with involved parents generally achieve higher grades and better standardised test scores, a correlation consistent across different demographics, including income and ethnicity.¹ 

Research shows successful students have strong academic support from their parents. ²

1. Schools can organize classroom observation days by inviting parents to see daily activities and teaching methods firsthand. These events can be scheduled periodically, allowing parents to experience the learning environment, student engagement, and teaching styles. By observing lessons, parents gain a better understanding of their child's academic progress and classroom dynamics. Schools can enhance the experience with guided tours, teacher-parent interactions, and Q&A sessions, fostering transparency and strengthening the relationship with parents.

2. Activities to support learning at home can equip parents with valuable information about what their children are learning in the classroom and how to assist with homework. This includes providing families with insights on the skills students need across all subjects and grade levels, outlining homework policies, and offering tips on how to monitor and discuss schoolwork at home.

3. Schools can hold workshops to teach parents effective strategies for supporting their children with specific subjects at home. These sessions can also focus on promoting emotional well-being, building resilience, and encouraging healthy coping mechanisms for managing anxiety and depression. By offering practical guidance, schools empower parents to address both academic challenges and emotional needs, fostering a balanced approach to their child’s overall development and well-being.

4. Private Facebook or WhatsApp groups dedicated to particular grades and sections can act as casual platforms for parents to exchange updates, reminders, and helpful tips. Additionally, schools can establish parent portals that provide consistent updates on their child's academic performance and classroom participation.

5. A strong online presence with regular messaging is an excellent way to assist parents with school events and keep families informed about school activities, ensuring they are in the loop.

However, certain factors can hinder parents’ participation in school activities:

1. Time limitations for working parents result in reduced involvement in school activities. Also, rigid school policies that do not accommodate the necessities of working parents can lead to disengagement.

2. Communication obstacles, such as language differences, an overload of information causing confusion, and complex terminology used by educators, can create a gap between schools and parents.

3. If parents lack awareness of the significance of their participation in the educational process, they may be less inclined to take on responsibilities and make an extra effort. Additionally, some parents might feel unprepared to support academic tasks due to a lack of familiarity with the curriculum or educational standards. Furthermore, if the school environment and culture appear intimidating and unwelcoming, parents may hesitate to get involved in any activity.

Summary

To improve parental involvement in education, schools should address these barriers by offering flexible scheduling, establishing clear communication strategies, and embracing inclusive practices. Creating a welcoming atmosphere and providing resources that cater to the diverse needs of families helps strengthen the school-parent partnership. These efforts lead to more effective collaboration, ultimately supporting student academic success and well-being.

Disclaimer

The article is curated by referring to various credible sources and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of QS I-GAUGE. The information provided is for general informational purposes only, readers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional advice before making any decisions.

Reference

https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/parental-involvement-in-education/

https://www.sciepub.com/reference/227468

Read more:

https://www.schoolstatus.com/blog/parent-involvement-school-another

https://www.manaeducation.co.uk/blog/teaching-resourses/engaging-parents-in-student-learning

https://www.schoolstatus.com/blog/parent-involvement-school-another

https://www.gettingsmart.com/2019/10/05/10-strategies-for-schools-to-improve-parent-engagement/

https://www.myeducomm.com/blog/9-strategies-to-improve-parent-involvement-in-education/