Know your duty in educating children

EDUCATING a child is a shared responsibility and that should be understood by all who are involved in educating children.
Every child has the right to education, but that right has to be guided through practical applications of responsibilities by the child him/ herself, parents, teachers, school administrations, members of the community and the Government and its agencies.
In our comments with regard to education of our children, we quickly shift the blame to teachers and call for investigations or call on authorities such as the Teaching Service Commission and provincial education boards to penalise teachers.
Yes, teachers are very important with regard to teaching our sons and daughters.
Planning lessons, correctly applying teaching strategies and methods and other duties from Monday to Friday in the classroom are teachers’ obligations.
The school administration should ensure all teaching and learning activities are in order and ensure actual teaching is implemented according to the schedules by the assigned teachers.
The community is there to protect the school, teachers and children.
The Government, through its agencies, should ensure subsidies reach schools on time so they can purchase the materials needed to ensure a smooth flow of learning.
The law enforcement agencies are there to ensure activities that disrupt learning and schools’ operations do not eventuate.
To parents and those who quickly go to the media to speak negatively against teachers, do you know your responsibilities with regard to your child’s education?
Who is responsible for the child’s negative attitude?
Who is to be blamed for students skipping classes and having no proper meals?
Teachers only teach and guide children, most of the responsibility is on parents.
The real value of teachers can be seen when parents, the Government and all relevant stakeholders are working together.
Everyone should know their responsibility towards our children’s education and ensure they do their part.
We fail our children when we do not do our part.

Jack Anis Kukiwa,
EHP