‘PTMs contribute to student’s holistic development’

The parent-teacher relationship in India holds immense significance for the comprehensive development and success of students. Education is highly valued, and parents take an active interest in their children’s learning journey. They see teachers as important role models and authority figures who shape their children’s future.

Effective communication between parents and teachers helps create a supportive and collaborative environment for the child. When parents and teachers are on the same page, they can jointly address any challenges the child may face and create tailored solutions to support their learning.

When parents and teachers work together, they can motivate the child to excel academically and in extracurricular activities. Encouragement from both home and school often boosts a child’s self-confidence and helps them perform better.

According to Dr Vijay Kumar, Associate Professor at Apeejay Stya University-School of Education, a cordial relationship between the parent-teacher is very critical to improve the achievement levels of children/students.

“Both these parties are responsible as well as interested in the holistic development of the children/students. Both these parties should share the issues and challenges, if any, being faced by the student and celebrate success and discuss failures together. So in order to ensure their development, there is always a need to have a good parent-teacher relationship,” Dr Kumar opined.

According to various research studies, parents’ role in education has been found very important in the achievement levels of children/students, both in scholastic as well as non-scholastic areas. These parties are very critical in the development process of a child/student. There should exist a good cordial honest relationship between both parties, they should not hesitate to communicate properly between them. 

If an honest, sincere communication channel, then it can definitely help in the holistic development of the child. These days because of technological advancement, social media like WhatsApp can be easily used to have proper communication between the teacher and parents

Dr Vijay Kumar, Associate Professor at Apeejay Stya University-School of Education

To create a conducive learning environment both at home and in the classroom, both parents and teachers need to become role models for the students. “Whatever parents and teachers do, children/students consciously or unconsciously try to do that. So if both parents and teachers understand their responsibility, behave properly, fulfill their duties and at their places and time, children/students would by following them, become good citizens of society and the larger world,” Dr Kumar said.  

He added that there are several resources or tools available to strengthen the parent-teacher partnership and engagement but Parent-Teacher Meetings are a very critical component in ensuring a good communication process exists between both these parties.

“These are organised on a regular interval basis by the schools. Parents should not consider it a fee-collection exercise by the schools. PTMs rather play a very critical role and provide an opportunity for both these parties to discuss the issues and challenges, if any, being faced by the student,” Dr Kumar said.

Similarly, teachers should also not consider it as a formality and take it seriously. They should maintain proper records of students’ achievements or successes and issues and challenges faced by them. Every student has ups and downs, he said.  Sometimes, children/students hesitate to share some issues with their parents but easily share them with the teachers. It may happen vice-versa also.

“If an honest, sincere communication channel exists, then it can definitely help in the holistic development of the child. These days because of technological advancement, social media like WhatsApp can be easily used to have proper communication between the teacher and parents,” Dr Kumar shared.

Parents should also not miss other opportunities provided by the schools. For example, if the school sends an invitation for some special progamme being organised by the school to parents, in which their wards are participating, parents should attend that and boost the morale of their wards.

A strong partnership between parents and teachers can significantly benefit the child’s education and overall development. Here are some more steps to foster better parent-teacher relations:

Cultural Understanding: Schools should promote cultural understanding and sensitivity among teachers to cater to the diverse backgrounds of students and their families. This helps build trust and rapport with parents from various social, economic, and cultural backgrounds.

Parent Engagement Programmes: Conduct workshops, seminars, and orientation sessions for parents to help them understand the educational process, curriculum, and ways to support their child’s learning at home.

Feedback Mechanism: Create a feedback mechanism where parents can share their thoughts, suggestions, and concerns. Teachers can also seek feedback from parents on their teaching methodologies and communication.

Recognition and Appreciation: Acknowledge and appreciate parents’ involvement in their child’s education. Positive reinforcement goes a long way in encouraging parents to stay engaged and supportive.

Parent Volunteer Programmes: Involve parents in school activities and events through volunteer programmes. This promotes a sense of ownership and pride in the school community.

Encourage Parent Support Groups: Establish parent support groups to facilitate interaction among parents, allowing them to share experiences, concerns, and solutions with each other.

Promote Parent Education: Offer parent education programs on various subjects such as child psychology, parenting skills, and study habits. This empowers parents to be more effective in supporting their child’s education.

Address Language Barriers: In a linguistically diverse country like India, language barriers can sometimes be a challenge. Schools should strive to accommodate multiple languages and ensure effective communication with parents who may not be fluent in the dominant language.

Be Transparent: Teachers should be transparent about their teaching methods, evaluation criteria, and the learning goals they set for students. This transparency builds trust and keeps parents well-informed about their child’s progress.By implementing these strategies, schools and educators can strengthen the bond between parents and teachers, leading to a more supportive and nurturing environment for students’ academic and personal growth. Remember that parent-teacher relations are a continuous process that requires ongoing effort and cooperation from both sides.