More 'no's' needed at parent-teacher conferences

Parents came without invitation letters and left without contact cards.

The first thing that is missing in parent-teacher conferences today is that schools cut down on paperwork. Parents come to meetings empty-handed and most of them leave without receiving any paperwork from their homeroom teachers.

In previous years, to prepare for parent-teacher conferences, schools and teachers had to prepare all kinds of documents: invitations, reports, contact forms, school plans, fees, etc. And when parents came to the meeting, they had to bring the invitations. When they left, everyone had a stack of all kinds of documents in their hands.

A parent meeting on instructions for registering for the 10th grade entrance exam for 9th grade students. In current parent meetings, the school minimizes paperwork.

Applying digital technology to life according to the government's policy, the school has simplified procedures. Thanks to the technology platform, the school has convenient and regular information connection with parents. Therefore, the transfer of meeting information and scores becomes convenient, easy and fast.

Even with tuition fees, many years ago, parents no longer had to queue up to pay tuition for their children.

In parent-teacher meetings, most teachers are now very "psychological" when they do not name and harshly criticize weak and disobedient students, but instead talk to each parent individually. Meetings are not long-winded bragging about achievements but are more substantive. Meeting times are flexible, and can be held in the evening (as many schools have done), instead of being fixed on Saturday or Sunday mornings as before.

Need to add "no" overcharging, no school fund, class fund...

But all these positive points are still not enough, current parent-teacher conferences still do not create "sympathy" in the eyes and thoughts of many parents. Why is that? Because they think that attending parent-teacher conferences means hearing about paying fees.

Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has instructed schools not to establish class and school funds, which is an urgent directive in the face of public complaints about overcharging in schools. Requiring schools to publicly disclose fees on their websites is also very necessary, helping parents pay conveniently and making it easier for management agencies to monitor. However, these things need to be "realized" through parent meetings, especially the parent-teacher meetings at the beginning of the year, because in reality, there are still cases of "the king's law losing to the village's custom". Prohibition is still prohibited, collection is still collected!

Overcharging, unreasonable school and class funds have made the parent meeting at the beginning of the school year synonymous with hearing about payment notices for many people. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training's request that schools not establish class and school funds is a timely directive in response to public complaints about overcharging in schools.

In addition to the inspection of industry leaders, the role of each school principal is extremely important. Few teachers and staff dare to go against the general direction of the school.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Dat, Principal of Tay Thanh High School, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, said: "Before the recent parent-teacher meeting, we thoroughly informed the homeroom teachers in the school that they are not allowed to collect class funds. If parents want to accompany their children's activities, they should support the activities themselves. The school does not advocate calling on parents to contribute funds to the school. If parents care about disadvantaged students in the class or in the school, they should contribute and give them directly to the students on a voluntary basis. Regarding giving scholarships and rewards to students, the school will do whatever it takes."

Many parents and teachers say that the more "no"s there are in parent-teacher meetings, the more comfortable and relaxed they feel.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/can-them-nhieu-cai-khong-trong-cac-buoi-hop-phu-huynh-185231008112618803.htm