Study after study has consistently shown that it is not income or social status, but active parental involvement in a child’s education that is the most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school—attending school regularly, earning higher grades, passing their classes, graduating senior school and going on to obtain a postsecondary education. I’ve yet to meet a teacher that didn’t wholeheartedly agree with this statement. Children will perform significantly better when their parents are actively involved in their education. So what can be done to encourage parents to do more?
This proposal advocates that three fundamental steps be taken:
1. Tell parents the critical importance of their participation—get the message out;
2. Give parents the tools they need to help their children derive more from the education product being delivered by the schools; and
3. Give parents and students incentives to work harder and smarter by implementing a scholarship programme for every child in public school (from P1 to the end of high school). Every year the child will receive $500 for completing his homework at least 90% of the time, another $250 if he gets a B average and another $500 if he gets an A average. The money is held in trust and only vests if the child completes high school and the money can only be used for post-secondary education including trade schools.
For more on this policy proposal, click here: Proposal to facilitate effective parental involvement in children’s education.
