Parents show growing interest in school councils

A record number of parents this year voted to elect their representatives to the councils of state primary and secondary schools, a sign that the idea of parent participation in education - promoted strongly in the new national curriculum - is catching on.

The elections were held at the end of January. Each council is made up of three parents, three teachers, the head of school and a president appointed by the Education Minister.

Elections are held only in those schools at which there are more candidates than vacant posts. According to figures provided by the Education Ministry, there were 57 schools, mainly primary, at which elections for parents were necessary, compared to some 35 at the last elections two years ago. This also led to there being many more voters: about 6,000 families cast their ballot, with one vote per family.

"The increased interest in school councils means that not only are parents more willing to become actively involved in the school and in the education of their children, but also that heads are more willing to take the parents on board," said Frans Borg, a founder member of the Association of School Councils and secretary general of the European Parents Association.

"Increasingly, parents are understanding that the curriculum is not the exclusive domain of academics and educators, but that they can play their part in the way it is drawn up and put into practice.

"We are also seeing a new generation of heads coming in who are more in favour of parental involvement, and who are striving to make their schools more parent-friendly. Without the head's encouragement of parents, many council elections would not be held because there would not be enough candidates."

The role of the school council is to administer funds in the interest of the students, encourage the growth of parental contribution to education and to the school, organise educational and social meetings for parents, improve the relationship between teachers and parents, and enhance the school's physical environment.

The AKS was now embarking on a drive to have councils contribute to the drawing up of school policies and the school development plan, Mr Borg said.

Of course, parents need not be on the school council to be actively involved in school and educational matters. The curriculum says that they can support the curriculum by, for example, providing a stimulating and stable home environment, showing interest in the educational process, engaging in dialogue with teachers and participating in educational projects.

They should also provide the school with information which can help their child's development and contribute knowledge, skills and free time to the school if they can.

Local and international research shows strong links between parents' active participation and students' social, emotional and academic development.

This participation also positively affects children's school attendance, self-esteem, enthusiasm for learning, classroom behaviour, time dedicated to homework, and expectations with regard to career prospects.

There are also many advantages to the school itself, such as higher teacher morale, a better school-community rapport and higher parent attendance at school activities.

The association has been working hard in the field, such as by organising courses and educational meetings for parents at individual schools, consulting heads continuously, distributing brochures, and setting up a focus group.

February 13 will see another meeting being organised by the association to which all parents, especially newly elected ones, are invited. The theme is their role on school councils.

Mr Borg said the parents would also be able to voice their opinions about what the accociation's priorities should be in the coming year.