Take the matter(s) up with the members of the SMC and the School's Headmaster/mistress. Share your concerns with the loc
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION YOUR CHILDREN RECEIVE? BALOCHISTAN Everyone has a part to play when it comes to improving education in Pakistan. Here are some ways to help:
A. Talk to your children
Talking to your children is an essential step in improving their learning experience. If you are unable to read and write to the level your child needs, ask neighbours, friends or family members to help out , or speak to other parents to help you come up with ways to get your child the extra help they need. 1
Encourage your children to discuss any problems that they are facing in school with you
2
Make sure that your children finish their homework every day
3
Encourage your children to read books
4
Find your closest library and visit it with your children as often as possible
5
Form a study group with other parents and children (getting together with other students to study in a group)
6
Encourage your children to help each other with their homework
B. Talk to your children’s teachers
Teachers make an enormous difference to the quality of education your children receive. Described below are some ways to engage with teachers in government schools: 1
Attend all Parent-Teacher meetings
2
Recognize and appreciate the teachers’ efforts in school and their contribution to your children’s education
3
Offer to volunteer (for example art activities, student weeks, field trips) at your children’s schools
4
Encourage teachers to improve their knowledge and teaching skills and ask how you can help them do so
5
Discuss your children’s progress in schools and their weaknesses and ask how you can help improve them
6
Communicate the problems your child faces in the class with her/his teacher
C. Join Parent Teacher School Management Committees
Interested parents can join Parent Teacher School Management Committees (PTSMCs) and assist in the administrative affairs of the schools to improve quality of the education and monitor facilitation of basic facilities. Members of PTSMCs are elected by the Village Education Council, a council consisting of all parents, community members, local councilors and teachers. A parent is chosen as the body’s chairperson and a teacher serves as the secretary. PTSMCs meet once a month. As a member of PTSMC you can assist school authorities in the following areas: 1
Development affairs
2
Administrative affairs
The Government of Balochistan, Education Department authorizes PTSMCs to prepare a development plan for the school in coordination with the Learning Coordinator (LC) or the Assistant District Officer (ADO - education). PTSMCs can also collect donations for petty repair work, purchase of stationery and reading materials, water coolers, blackboards, laboratory material, and repair of furniture and construction of washrooms. They monitor school assets and submit a list of missing facilities when required. A fundamental objective for PTSMCs is to encourage enrolment of all out-of-school children into the schools and to make sure the factors contributing to the drop out of students are curbed. PTSMCs submit a report on attendance of students and teachers and the issues raised by students, teachers and other parents. In cases of continued absence of teaching or non-teaching staff, PTSMCs can officially submit a report to the concerned officers from education department.
Therefore, they also monitor staff and student attendance. PTSMCs opena joint bank accounts in the local bank or Post Office and funds can be withdrawn after joint signatures from both the chairperson and the secretary have been obtained.
D. Make your voice heard
As a citizen and voter, you have the right to a free and compulsory quality education for your children. If your children are not receiving the quality education they deserve, you must make your voice heard by those responsible by taking one or more of the following measures: 1
Speak to other parents of students enrolled in the same school about any problems/issues
2
Write to the Education Managers (DEO)
3
Take the matter(s) up with the members of the SMC and the School's Headmaster/mistress
4
Share your concerns with the local government representative (UC, Tehsil and District levels)
5
Always take a candidates’ education mandate into account before casting your vote
6
Look up Civil Society Organisations to help organise protests and meetings for persistent problems
7
Contact your local media offices and journalists to report persistent problems
