Parents Issues at School : Parent Teachers Association (PTA)

PARENTS ISSUES

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PARENT

The importance of parents cannot be over-emphasized. The parent is the most important asset of the school (Not the building, vehicles, etc). School Administrators must consciously teach their teachers to appreciate the value and importance of the parents because without the parents there will be no students to teach and consequently no income. Consequently, school operators should emphasize the following to their teachers:

1. The parent is the school’s greatest asset – Not the buildings or vehicles
2. He is the reason for the school’s existence – No parent, no students, No the schools
3. He is the one who makes “Paydays” possible No parent, no income, no salary
4. He is the school’s most potent publicity tool – positively or negatively

VITAL TRUTHS ABOUT PARENTS THAT ADMINISTRATORS MUST EMPHASIZE TO STAFF

1. He is doing the School a favour by enrolling his children in the school since there are other schools
2. He has a choice or choices (Your competitors)
3. The school needs him more than he needs the school
4. The management will rather lose a staff than lose a parent
5. A satisfied and happy parent is the schools best publicity material

TIPS FOR RELATING WELL WITH PARENTS

Because your competitors are not sleeping, parents will always have choices, consequently, you must do everything possible to ensure that in spite of the numerous choices available to the parents, they stay with your school. Here are some tips for achieving this:

1. Provide high-quality service in relation to tuition and knowledge impartation
2. Strive to exceed the parent’s expectations
3. Know what your competitors (other schools) are doing and develop the internal competence to stay ahead of them
4. Honour the Parents – Let him feel genuinely appreciated
5. Treat parents as they would want to be treated, if you are not sure how they would want to be treated, treat them as you would want to be treated if you were in their shoes.
6. Have an efficient Feedback system – There must be a way of knowing what your parents feel and think about your school
7. Have a fast and dependable Complaints Resolutions System – No complainant should be left unattended
8. Organize PTA meetings and Open days regularly etc.
9. Introduce the use of Communication Book in the school
10. Periodically circulate FEEDBACK forms to parents – See sample overleaf

OBLIGATIONS TO THE PARENT (WHAT THE SCHOOL OWES ITS PARENTS)

1. Efficient Service i.e. Qualitative and Effective Tuition for their Wards
2. Conducive, Safe and Secure Learning Environment
3. Courtesy, Patience and Consideration, Sincerity
4. Value for their Money, Respect and Regard
5. A Reason to Come Back in the midst of Alternatives

COMPLAINTS MANAGEMENT (Handling/Resolving Parents Complaints)

WHAT IS A COMPLAINT?

Any reservation or expression of dissatisfaction made by a service recipient or service user in relation to the service provided is usually a result of a failure of the service provider to provide the level and quality of service expected by the service recipient.

A complaint could be received in:

1. Writing – Filling a complaints form, writing a letter, email, etc.
2. Verbally – One to one discussion or over the telephone, or electronic media

SOME COMMON TYPES OF COMPLAINTS IN SCHOOLS

1. Decline in academic standard
2. Dissatisfaction with the behaviour of a staff
3. Dissatisfaction with access to services
4. Dissatisfaction with physical environment
5. Dissatisfaction with a decision taken by the school authorities.

FACILITATING/ENCOURAGING COMPLAINTS

The first step in handling parent’s complaints is to provide opportunities and avenues for parents to complain and voice their reservations/dissatisfaction. To do this it is recommended that schools do the following:

1. Have a complaints/suggestion box placed conspicuously in the school reception and encourage parents to use them
2. Periodically circulate feedback forms/questionnaires to parents – see attached sample.
3. School authorities should hold regular P. T. A  meetings and open day with a view to getting parents’ impressions, observations and reservations and dissatisfaction, and addressing them immediately.
4. Have a parents’ complaints phone line which parents can call in case of any reservations or complaints.

Overleaf is a sample of the Feedback form recommended for schools.

RECOMMENDED FEEDBACK FORM FOR SCHOOLS (TO BE FILLED BY PARENTS/GUARDIANS) SAMPLE

Dear Parents, Thank you for the confidence you have reposed in our school by enrolling your child/children with us. We are poised and determined to serve you even better. Kindly fill the form below to enable us know what changes to effect in the school as soon as possible.

PLEASE DO NOT WRITE YOUR NAME OR YOUR CHILD’S NAME

1. Do you think your child/children are getting good/qualitative tuition in this school. Yes _______________ No________________
2. If your answer to the above is NO, please state your reasons ________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

3. Apart from tuition and knowledge impartation, do you think your child is getting enough in terms of morals and discipline? Yes _____ No__________ There is room for improvement_____________
4. Are our teachers polite and friendly Yes _______ No________

Some are_______________

5. Are there any improvements/Innovations you will like to see in the school in the coming session? If yes please list them.

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

6. Do you have any reservations operations, facilities or service or complaints about any delivery? If yes, please state your reservations.
7. If you know someone looking for a school for his/her ward(s), will you recommend our school?

Thank you for your time in answering the above questions, please drop this form with the school secretary (Not class teacher). We assure you that you will see positive changes in the school very soon.

Thank you

Management

HANDLING VERBAL COMPLAINTS MADE BY PARENTS

            When a complaint is made, teachers must be taught to do the following:

1. Don’t argue with the parent on the spot
2. Get the details of the complaint – get all the necessary information
3. Apologize to the parent on the spot even if you think he/she does not deserve it.Don’t investigate before apologizing
4. Promise to do something about the problem or situation
5. Address the complaint as soon as possible – correct the situation
6. Check if the parent is now satisfied
7. Take steps to prevent a re-occurrence
8. Inform your superior for record purposes and to ascertain if you addressed the situation the right way. (Don’t keep parents’ complaints to yourself)
9. If you have the parents’ phone number, send a text message further apologizing

PARENTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION ISSUES

The importance of PTA’s in schools cannot be overemphasized. The impact made on the pup the school is only a portion of the total well being of the child. There is therefore a need combined efforts of the teachers and parents for the purpose of the overall development o child. It is this understanding that informs the establishment of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA).

PURPOSE OF THE PTA

1. To foster understanding and mutual relationship between the school management and parents
2. To afford the school the opportunity of ensuring that both parents and teachers work for the common good of the child without duplicating efforts.
3. To promote the active participation of parents in the educational and extra-curricular activities of the school such as sports, excursions, Inter-school quiz, debates, etc.
4. To provide parents with the opportunity of contributing morally and financially, intellectual, moral and social development of the children.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE PTA

1. All Parents, Guardians, and Teachers of the school are automatically members of the
2. Parents and Guardians membership shall be ratified by the completion of membership form and payment of a stipulated membership fee.
3. Membership ceases when a child or ward ceases to be a student of the school or teacher ceases to be a staff of the school.

SUGGESTED QUALITIES OF NOMINEES FOR PTA CHAIRMANSHIP POSITION

School operators are advised to insist on the following qualities as primary criteria to be anybody seeking election as PTA chairman.

It is recommended that nominees for PTA chairmanship should:

1. Be regular school fees payers, not debtors or installment payers
2. They should be law-abiding parents who respect the school policies and have no of clashes with teachers, other parents or management.
3. Their wards should not be in final year classes. i.e. Primary 6 or SS 3
4. Must have shown consistency in PTA meeting attendance
5. Should not be a trouble maker or someone who incites other parents against the school
6. Should have good interpersonal/people management skills and relates well with other parents
7. Should be of sound health and sound mind- Able to take rational decision
8. Should not have any criminal record
9. Any other criteria the school may deem necessary.