idolfan
12-03-2006, 10:15 AM
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/3/11/central/13599517&sec=central
PARENTS have been asked to take a greater interest in their children's education by attending functions organised by the Parents and Teachers Associations (PTAs).
Seri Kembangan assemblyman Datuk Liew Yuen Keong said parents often complained about shortcomings in the education or care that their children received at school but failed to show up for PTA meetings or functions.
“There are many issues that parents bring up, ranging from truancy and misconduct to children getting involved in unhealthy activities after school hours,'' he said.
Liew says turnout at PTA meetings is generally disappointing.
He said many often claimed that schools should do more to keep children away from these unhealthy activities and that PTA functions and meetings offered the best platform to discuss the issues.
“There are children whose behaviour at home is the total opposite from that in school and feedback from teachers can help parents detect problems early on and resolve them,'' he said.
Liew said the participation of parents however was extremely poor with usually less than a quarter of the parents actually turning up for meetings or even the PTA annual general meetings (AGMs).
“The problem is the same at almost all schools as I have been attending many of the PTA AGMs in my constituency and found the turnout to be very poor,'' he said.
He said during the recent PTA annual general meeting at SK Taman Universiti only about 150 parents out of the 900 registered parents turned up.
He said what was disappointing was that the headmistress of the school had asked all the teachers to attend the meeting and stay back after it in order to provide a chance for parents to meet with them.
He said the poor turnout did not make sense since the meeting was organised on a Saturday and parents were informed weeks ahead of the date.
He said getting to know the PTA office bearers who represented them at the school was also important as these would be the people to call if there was a problem that needed attention.
“The meetings also provide a chance for parents to meet and get to know each other so that they could help each other with even the simple tasks like sending and picking up children from extra curricular activities,'' he said.
I think Datuk Liew needs to look at reasons why parents are not getting involved in PTAs . I agree there are some parents who normally don't think it necessary for them to get involved in their childs' schools.
But I feel the School HMs and authorities can do more to get more parents involved. Parents in our forum might want to share here as to reasons why they do not get involved in PTAs. Is the situation the same in Chinese and Tamil-type schools as in national schools..
If we get enough views we might be able pass them on to the assemblyman who might want to pass it on to the Education Minister.
PARENTS have been asked to take a greater interest in their children's education by attending functions organised by the Parents and Teachers Associations (PTAs).
Seri Kembangan assemblyman Datuk Liew Yuen Keong said parents often complained about shortcomings in the education or care that their children received at school but failed to show up for PTA meetings or functions.
“There are many issues that parents bring up, ranging from truancy and misconduct to children getting involved in unhealthy activities after school hours,'' he said.
Liew says turnout at PTA meetings is generally disappointing.
He said many often claimed that schools should do more to keep children away from these unhealthy activities and that PTA functions and meetings offered the best platform to discuss the issues.
“There are children whose behaviour at home is the total opposite from that in school and feedback from teachers can help parents detect problems early on and resolve them,'' he said.
Liew said the participation of parents however was extremely poor with usually less than a quarter of the parents actually turning up for meetings or even the PTA annual general meetings (AGMs).
“The problem is the same at almost all schools as I have been attending many of the PTA AGMs in my constituency and found the turnout to be very poor,'' he said.
He said during the recent PTA annual general meeting at SK Taman Universiti only about 150 parents out of the 900 registered parents turned up.
He said what was disappointing was that the headmistress of the school had asked all the teachers to attend the meeting and stay back after it in order to provide a chance for parents to meet with them.
He said the poor turnout did not make sense since the meeting was organised on a Saturday and parents were informed weeks ahead of the date.
He said getting to know the PTA office bearers who represented them at the school was also important as these would be the people to call if there was a problem that needed attention.
“The meetings also provide a chance for parents to meet and get to know each other so that they could help each other with even the simple tasks like sending and picking up children from extra curricular activities,'' he said.
I think Datuk Liew needs to look at reasons why parents are not getting involved in PTAs . I agree there are some parents who normally don't think it necessary for them to get involved in their childs' schools.
But I feel the School HMs and authorities can do more to get more parents involved. Parents in our forum might want to share here as to reasons why they do not get involved in PTAs. Is the situation the same in Chinese and Tamil-type schools as in national schools..
If we get enough views we might be able pass them on to the assemblyman who might want to pass it on to the Education Minister.