PONDSIDE, Hanover – The Pondside All-Age School in Hanover recently honoured eight parents for their outstanding contributions to their children’s educational development over the last year.

The awardees included Barbara McKenzie, Lavern Ferrier, Gloria Wilson, Oska Haughton, Rosemarie Thompson, Novlette Parkin and Tanisha Fray.

The idea for the awards was born of the need to help motivate parents to actively participate in their children’s educational development, according to school principal Naomi Needham. The result, she said, has been positive.

“Children are now paying more attention and parents are more aware of what is taking place at school and the attendance has improved at PTA meetings,” she said. “In the future, we want to see more children being more interested in their work as a result of their parents’ involvement which will result in better passes in exams and reading levels improved.”

Fathers have, meanwhile, been charged with playing a more active role in the school life of their children.

“Some are never seen and the responsibility is mostly left up to the mothers. In my time when a Parent/Teachers Association meeting was called the audience would be filled with men. Today we only have three,” said lay preacher Ena Francis, in reference to the only three males in attendance at the meeting. “Right now we are facing a predicament, which only God can help with but we have to first help ourselves and he will do the rest.”

Pondside, the alma mater of renowned athlete Merlene Ottey, has a population of 175 students and five teachers.

– walkerc@jamaicaobserver.com