TIIE-EL-Community

Parents meeting at Ejipura

There are 37 students in class 7 at GHPS Ejipura, and only 9 parents attended the parents meeting. We created a video by involving students participation in many activities, parents were so happy to see the pictures and videos of their child's participation in school activities. Class teacher starts the interaction with explaining the covid/pandemic situation and how it affects students' learning by mentioning teachers' efforts to bring them up. Teachers asked parents to watch over their children at home, question them about their studies, and advise them not to send their children to tuitions. Following that, we started a discussion about their beliefs and practises regarding their child's learning.

Strategies for an inclusive set-up for parent's meeting:

   • Circle-shaped seating

   • Text-audio-visual materials to be used during conversations

   • A place for them to express their opinions

   • Sharing evidence of the children's participation with parents while making an effort to involve all children

   • Audio messages in addition to text messages

     

Parents' comments:

   1. Parents were more keen to learn more about their children's progress than simply signing a book and paper and attending a parent's meeting.

   2. Some children have single parents who struggle to keep track of their students in addition to other responsibilities. Teachers should pay more attention to those kids and provide the best guidance possible for them.    

   3. A few parents spoke about the difficulties they experienced as a result of their socio - economic status as a single parent.

      Example 1; Kavya(name changed) has a single parent because her father died when she was 3 years old and no other siblings. Mother works as a maid in 2–4 homes. She is influenced by her aunt in extracurricular activities and used her service to help with household chores like carrying water from outside and washing dishes, but she is unwilling to assist her mother and has no interest in reading or writing. The mother finds it difficult to provide her daughter with the necessities, such as clothing, school supplies, and occasionally food.

      Example 2; Abhi(name changed) is a single parent who lost his father in 2022. He has three siblings, a 19-year-old boy who has stopped attending school and is instead just hanging out with friends, a 14-year-old sister who quit school when she was in high school, and a 6-year-old little sister who attends anganavadi. He is also not interested in going to school, and for the past few months, someone has had to convince him into attending classes.Even though he went to school, he frequently leaves because he gets bored.

His mother asked him to attend school and learn something because she was upset with his behaviour. She is unwilling to go to work to earn money if he does not engage in school.     

   4. One parent mentioned how their child enjoys going to school and how the school environment affects her social skills.

      As an illustration, the child's father noted that while she is very quiet at home, she will get along with everyone in school. They meant that she wouldn't argue with her friends or complain at home.    

   5. Two parents compare the kids' educational levels with those of their siblings.

      Example; "Her sister was fully engaged in reading and learning activities at home, but she was a little lazy and using her phone during that time," one of the child's fathers mentioned.

   6. Parents agreed to take time off from work and attend the meeting after knowing that the parents' meeting was more important than their job following our interaction.

Challenges:    

   1. The majority of parents find the meeting times inconvenient.

   2. Meeting schedule, short notice of meeting, and meeting purpose not properly communicated to many parents

   3. Parents are unable to attend the meeting for personal or professional reasons, and they are also unable to make time for their children's learning activities.

   4. A lack of awareness of the meeting's importance.

   5. A lack of trust between teachers and parents regarding meeting.

   6. Some time Teachers' attitudes and behaviour prevent parents from visiting the school.

Parents meeting planned in such a way that

   • Stop calling the child's parents to sign the meeting's attendance sheet and answer sheet.

   • Create interest for the parents to attend the meeting held at school

   • Make sure to schedule regular meetings to discuss their child's progress in the classroom activities at least once a month.

   • Discussion of how parents should participate in their children's educational activities

   • Use audio inputs rather than text messages.

   • All subject teachers, including HM, are indeed welcome to attend the meeting.

   • Plan for parents to be aware of their children' challenges.

   • Let parents know what is being taught in class and about school programmes

Think about it :

   • How can we encourage more meaningful interaction between parents and teachers?