Contrary to common belief parental involvement is the foundation of achievement and well-being in schools. A student’s academic, social, and emotional growth is greatly influenced by the interaction between his/her home and school; it is not merely a complementing one.

Strong parent-school relationships are becoming increasingly important as educational environments change, reflecting the realisation that education takes place in the larger framework of the family and community rather than in an isolated space. This supports the idea that raising children requires a community which includes the home and the school. I am aware that it is easier to blame teachers when things are going poorly, but who holds our parents accountable.

It has been often said that children whose parents are involved in their education typically do better academically. As a nation we must return to the time when parents regularly assist with homework, attend school functions, attend parent-teacher association meetings, or just stay in touch with teachers on a regular basis. Parents must realise that if their child is attending school, they are in school, and their continuous involvement affects the child’s performance.

It cannot all be left to our teachers. Students are more likely to finish homework, attend class consistently, and develop a positive attitude towards learning when their parents take an interest in their education. Students whose parents are either too busy to take a call from the school or teacher or have never been to the school outside of registering their child for school are the ones that our teachers in Jamaica struggle with the most. At the same time these are the parents who are not too busy for social gatherings and enjoyment. If parents refuse to join with our schools in Jamaica in emphasising the importance of academics, our students will continue to see it as being unimportant and take it for a joke.

We ought to keep in mind that parental involvement has an impact outside of the classroom. The top three issues in our Jamaican schools are behavioural issues, poor social skills, and low self-esteem, all of which are frequently seen in students whose parents are actively involved. Children feel encouraged when their parents are participating, which can lower anxiety and promote resilience in the face of both personal and academic difficulties. This will reduce the number of fights and other behavioural issues immensely.

Because parents are not interested, teachers are left to mother and father our children, leaving too many of them with “mommy and daddy issues”. Far too many of our students feel that their parents don’t support them enough, and don’t think for a minute that buying them books and uniforms, paying school fees, and providing lunch money is enough, it simply cannot be. Parents, our children are suffering greatly because of your absence from their lives.

Communities are more vibrant and inclusive when schools aggressively promote parental involvement. Parental involvement in school events and volunteer work fosters a supportive school culture that promotes cooperation and respect for one another. In addition to helping students, this collaborative effort improves communication and trust between our teachers and parents. These relationships are especially crucial for dealing with problems like bullying, loitering, and absenteeism (inclusive of being present for school but skipping classes) because teamwork can result in better outcomes.

With some families finding parental involvement difficult because of time restraints, communication difficulties, or unfamiliarity with the Jamaican educational system, some schools, like Mona High School and Manchester High school, have been using technology to create school apps to get past these challenges. Some use Google Meets or Zoom to hold virtual meetings or send out regular e-mail updates. To ensure parents are involved, schools have even employed
Telegram and WhatsApp groups. With all this happening, parents, you cannot continue to make excuses, you need to get involved.

We cannot overstate the significance of parental involvement in schools. Schools can improve student achievement, promote social and emotional growth, and create inclusive learning environments by cultivating strong parent-school relationships. As is often said, “It takes a village to raise a child,” and in the case of the Jamaican education system, this village can only be strengthened when parents are actively involved and work alongside teachers and schools for the benefit of every student.

presleyksmith@yahoo.com