The Ministry of Education and Youth (MoEY) through one of its primary agencies, the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC), has embarked on a series of sensitisation sessions to engage parents on the important issue of education transformation.

The ongoing training and information sessions are geared at helping parents understand their role in the transformation process, and to promote a solutions-oriented approach to their children’s education ahead of the new school year.

At a recent sensitisation session held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, NPSC Chief Executive Officer Kaysia Kerr urged the 300 parents in attendance to get more involved for better academic outcomes.

“We want you to know what the curriculum is asking. We want you to know what behaviours your children are displaying at school. We want you to know what their interests are because what you think they should be and what their natural gifts are may not be the same,” said Kerr.

Addressing current and prospective volunteer parent mentors in the session, Kerr pointed to the NPSC’s mandate to enrich, empower and provide parents with the tools for effective parenting. At the same time, she explained how the NPSC’s flagship programme, the Parent Mentorship Programme, would train volunteers in 10 modules over 13 weeks to equip parents as transformation partners across the country.

The programme is fully aligned with the broader goals of the education transformation effort, which is being undertaken by the MOEY. Chief Education Transformation Officer Dr Faith Alexander said: “Educational transformation is inclusive of all our stakeholders. That means our parents will be an essential part of this movement. Family engagement and parental involvement are shared responsibilities – schools and communities must band together for student learning and achievement. We’re advocating that family engagement be embedded into structures designed to meet these goals.” 

Echoing Alexander’s call for parent support for the transformation programme, Kerr added: “We believe that the education system cannot be transformed without the involvement of parents. Your participation is key, and so the sensitisation session was important as a first-round because we’ll be going across the country sensitising other parents. But at least we have these mentors in the field who will bring the message ahead of us so that parents will be interested in transformation and understand how they can participate in the process when we get to their region.”

With the new school year fast approaching, the session also included training on psychosocial support delivered by counselling psychologist Andre Allen-Casey. His presentation focused on giving parents practical solutions for stress management and self-efficacy that would allow them to be more effective in their parenting journey.

Parents who attended the session were very appreciative of the insights shared.

“My biggest takeaway from today’s session would be self-management. You have to help yourself first to be helpful to someone else or be effective in carrying out your mandate. Work on yourself first before you can help someone else,” said Janetta Murphy-Parks, one of the parent mentors who participated in the session.