SLIDE 1
SLIDE 2
Parent to 4 girls who have gone through the South African public education system
Mentor of numerous girl and boy children
Member of School Governing Bodies in 4 schools, since 1996
Interaction with SGB members of other schools
Involvement with parents in a Transnet Foundation learner development programme
Interactions in education forums and space
Extensive consultation with key stakeholders
Research findings
SLIDE 3
Education has been declared a key national
priority
This calls for action from each and every one of
us: government, teachers, learners, parents, education activists, NGO’s, corporates and all community members
Each of us has to find a role no matter how
small because its the collective impact that matters
SLIDE 4
South African Schools Act of 1996 legislates the involvement of parents in governance of schools
However does not replace individual parental responsibility!!
Governing bodies are made up of persons interested in education and the school and are expected to promote the best interest of schools
Adopt a constitution, develop a mission for the school, code of conduct for learners
Take care of the school’s property, buildings and grounds
May appoint teachers and pay their salaries
May apply to HOD for taking on additional functions such as ABET classes
SLIDE 5 Academic work of learners
- Provide the necessary resources
- Ensure that the child attends school
- Create space and time for the child to do homework
- Regularly check school work
- Sign assignments and comment on progress of child
- Attend parent meetings
- Interact with teachers regarding the child’s work
Governance of the school/programme
- Elect SGB members
- Become part of SGB
- Identify school committees to participate in
- Commit to and carry out tasks assigned
- Report back to the committee as expected
- Active involvement in the governance of the school
SLIDE 6 Volunteerism
- Participate in various volunteer activities organised by
the school
- Gives you a foot in the door!!!
Academic work of the school
- Assist with learners with special needs (reading, writing and assisting
learners with homework
- Drop in centres for learners - an environment for learners to do homework
and are assisted with homework
SLIDE 7
Executive Committee of the School Governing Body School Governing Body Finance Committee Fundraising committee Parent Association PA Subcommittees
SLIDE 8
Parents encouraged to get involved in different activities with different impact (low, medium and high)
All parent participation is valued
Activities are spread over the school term to avoid congestion of activities
SGB raised funds for the extension of the swimming pool
Current fundraising activity is for a state of the art science centre
Parent Association engages in numerous fundraising activities and
- ther activities thr9ughout the year – Also serves as a platform for all
parents to participate in events such as action days, Parktown Social etc.
SLIDE 9
Active SGB made up of mainly parents
Established a relationship with the Indian community led by Oom Jay – Result is funding for library for the school
Organizes Saturday school for the foundation phase and for the local high schools and recruits volunteers to teach at the Saturday school. Learners provided with lunch sponsored and prepared by community members
Created monthly parent/education book check commitment
Expanded Grade R class to two
School contracts given to local businesses who plough back to the school community of Alexandra
High sense of ownership of the school which enhanced security of the school
SLIDE 10
Quarterly stakeholder engagement meetings for feedback &
critical engagement
Teacher parent interaction on individual learner performance Manager parent interaction on learners social problems and
academic performance
Parent committees, parent volunteers for holiday camps
(caregivers)
Parent lifeskills workshops Continued learning of the children at home
SLIDE 11
Parents get to learn more about how the school operates;
challenges faced and how these are dealt with and what they can do to support the education system
Parents enabled to continue their socialization role at home to
complement work done by the school /programme
Parents are empowered to make informed decisions about the
school/programme
Parents become ambassadors for the school /programme Become change agents for the education system
SLIDE 12
Few parents get involved, some due to low levels of literacy
Parents with specific expertise not willing to get involved; e.g. financial expertise
Those involved end up in many committees/activities
Parents who are not involved look from the outside and criticise and may harbour negative sentiments about the school
In extreme situations, parents move their children to other schools
Perception about teachers’ lack of interest in the role of the SGB
High union militancy in schools, especially in the underprivileged areas
SLIDE 13
Community mobilization and involvement an important
ingredient for advocating for change to the education system
Value of parents should be emphasised throughout the different
school levels
Valued parents are most likely to participate in activities Take heed when parents come up with suggestions for action Give feedback to parents Individual feedback to parents regarding their child’s academic
work
SLIDE 14
Turn schools into hubs of activities even for community
events to heighten ownership and enhance security of the school
Breakdown of parent activities: high level, medium and
low level activities should be seen as value adding to the school community
Parental involvement in the activities of the school to be
acknowledged
More parental involvement in school activities such as
debate, sports, cultural days
SLIDE 15
Education is the responsibility of all SA citizens
It takes a village to raise a child
Each of us is part of that village and should seek to make a meaningful contribution
Find your role and play it to the best of your ability
Derive satisfaction from your involvement
Leave a lasting legacy for the younger generation
As we gracefully age and hand over the baton we should have leveled the ground – lest the younger generation points fingers at us for being the generation that failed them (the youth)
Prof Kgethi Setati said we have survived bad education. I concur – Lets ensure that
- ur children are recipients of a meaningful education.
SLIDE 16
Eleanor M. Lemmer. 2007. Parent
involvement in teacher education in South Africa
Create South Africa Policy Brief 4. May 2011.
Parent participation and meaningful access in South African Schools
South African Schools Act of 1996
