TEACHERS and parents are both scrambling to prepare for yet another demanding academic year ahead.
However, with the exception of the odd parent orientation at school, they are not engaging in any deep conversations about the students. Most students have not only been out of touch with subject knowledge, they have also had a long gap in social connections, work discipline and stringent schedules. Amidst the preparations, the focus on students is critical.
As schools restart after summer break, curriculum changes are the main focus, with many introducing robotics and AI in their educational frameworks. Some have revamped their co-curricular activities to extend offers beyond sports into leadership training, recognising the need to develop life skills. While all of these structural changes are critical, what is equally essential is a partnership with the parent community.
Schools may have evolved, but the ‘us versus them’ narrative between teachers and parents continues to plague progress.
Teachers feel unappreciated as parents throng to the school with complaints. There is lack of trust in a teacher`s ability and approach to addressing students` misdemeanours or their lack of academic achievement. Parents often feel minor infractions lead to bias, sidelining and even ostracism of their child, instead of the much-needed counselling and mentorship that teachers have traditionally provided.
School leaders often approach parental meetings with defensiveness, armed with the anticipation of a charge sheet against them, when collaboration during these meetings could actually help children thrive. Without mutual trust, respectful communication and shared responsibility, the partnership threatens to fall apart.
As tensions fester between teachers and parents, it not only threatens students` academic progress but also their well-being, as children are highly sensitive to tensions between adults in their lives. A vicious cycle sets off with finger-pointing, mixed messages and unproductive communication, creating barriers that causes disengagement and students become the crux of collateral damage.
If we were to shift focus from a blame game to shared goals, respect for each other’s roles and expertise, open dialogue and inclusive communication, much positive change can result. Students benefit from consistency, support and a united effort. In this new-age dynamic between educators and parents, there is pervasive fear of judgement among teachers who have to explain their actions continually to demanding parents as well as their school management.
Strategic partnership between the school and parent community can start with clear instructions perhaps in the parents’ handbook for addressing complaints. Parents can benefit from school events meant for relationship-building, where there are clear goals discussed, along with teaching philosophy, progress trackers and plans for the academic year.
Teachers often complain about parents’ lack of involvement in their students’ learning at home. If priorities are stated clearly and parents are invited for information sessions, they would benefit from understanding how they are expected to support their child`s learning. For this, a parent partnership coordinator may be helpful. Often, teachers require scripts or guides to support them with difficult conversations with parents and this kind of training is not provided as a matter of course. Equally important are parent advisory committees that can work together to provide collective feedback, facilitate two-way communication, set up regular touch points and help garner support and sponsorship for school events.
Much as communication channels such as WhatsApp and Facebook have thrilled parents who previously were barred from day-to-day information about their child’s school, these communication channels are ad hoc at best. While they provide quick and easy access to the teachers, they tend to do more harm than good, especially when conversations and photos are forwarded indiscriminately and often out of context.
Increasingly, teachers are being seen as working outside the interests of children and their families, and WhatsApp parent groups serve to amplify this mistrust. The urgent need is for a partnership that is rooted in respect, transparency and shared goals. At the heart of this could be something as simple as setting up `office hours` for individual teachers to entertain parents` queries and facilitate a close working bond. Another useful tool is a monthly progress update from teachers that celebrates achievement and highlights targets. A feedback loop can enable parents to respond to the update and add their suggestions.
Article (Opinion) Published in Dawn on August 12, 2025.
