By Amoto Ndiewo
More often than not, there have been cases of parents and teachers blaming each other for students’ poor performance.
The Education News team conducted a survey in the North Eastern counties of Mandera, Garissa, Wajir and Tana River.
Through the survey, it was discovered that parents who do not want to accept reality often blame and nag the teachers for their children’s poor performance in school.
This in turn fosters a stubborn block and lack of enthusiasm to change for the better.
During the survey, the Education News team met parents who blamed teachers for their children’s failure. On the other hand, the teachers argued that the teachers aren’t playing their role by not paying enough attention to the child’s performance. Other teachers blamed parents for failing to do their parental duties.
The following are various excerpts from interviews with several teachers in Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and Tana River counties.
The teachers responded to various questions on how parents and teachers can work together to enable their children perform better in school.
The EN team compiled a report from both sides and realised that academic performance may not be rooted on a particular field.
‘It may be rooted in the different aspects of a child’s life, and the lack of confidence that can lead to serious behavioural problems,’ said Ahmed Jibril head teacher of Mandera DEB Primary school.
Worst blunders parents commit that hamper their children’s progress in school
Halima Mohamed, the headmistress of Hatata primary school in Tana River County said that the first thing to keep in mind is that when a child has below average performance in school, it is always the parents or teachers to blame.
‘The reality is that, at times, neither the parent nor the teacher is to blame. Sometime, it’s all about the child being difficult. However, in many cases, the child’s attitude is a reflection of the environment he/she is in, ’said Madam Halima.
Caleb Alembi, a teacher at Mororo primary school in Tana River county says that parents may cultivate problems in their children through pitting children against teachers.
He further explains that, parents, especially those from affluent families, instil an attitude of superiority in their children.
He adds that he uses the word affluent broadly to include, superiority in religion, politics, tribe and wealth.
Alembi says that such false, real or imagined superiority might make the children not to respect their teachers.
‘Given the clan and apparent religious divide in both volatile regions where such differences often lead to bloody letting, parents must walk the talk of restraint,’’ advised Alembi, who said teachers too, aren’t free from such blame.
Hassan Ibrahim Smatman, the head teacher of Al Farouk in Garissa town says that making negative comments about a teacher in the presence of the child is another challenge.
‘As human beings , we are prone to err, but discussing an adult’s real or imagined shortcoming in front of a child will inevitably demean the adult in the child’s mind ,’’ said Smatman.
He adds that telling a child not to obey a teacher’s instruction causes confusion.
‘A child is left wondering whom to listen to and might end up not listening to anyone at all. If you go against the teachers’ rules, you will be teaching your child that it is alright to bend rules to suit yourself.’ he noted regretfully.
Jibril noted that being adverse to your child being corrected for wrong doing could be a societal problem in North Eastern.
He said that many possessive parents find it difficult to accept that their children are capable of doing wrong hence when the children are corrected for wrong doing, the parents come to the swift defence of the child.
‘Such behaviour often backfires and soon this child will manipulate both his /her parents and teachers to become wayward,’’ he sadly noted.
Beatrice Mwende Mutunga says besides they waywardness, there are families where parents don’t listen to their children and children don’t listen to parents.
Considering that the child has unique intelligence level, do teachers sometimes fail to help a child achieve his maximum capacity in school?
Bagash Mohamed from Mandera county says that the greatest impediment on a teacher‘s part can be lack of motivation.
‘If you are teaching and your heart isn’t there in it, it will slow your pupils’ progress.’ He said.
He further decried the teachers’ shortage in North Eastern.
‘This challenge makes the overworked teachers not to give their best,’ he said dejected.
He further added that drought, climate change and the nomadic lifestyle in the area have also affected school attendance in the region.
Sadly the Education News team realized that without serious applicable conversations amongst stakeholders, education in the volatile region will continue to struggle like an overturned beetle trying to regain its right riding position with limited success.
Many non-school going children are an indication of the low school enrolment in the region.
Interestingly, the Education News team noted that families with educated mothers had more children in school who performed pretty well compared to others in a region where academic performance isn’t up to scratch .
How can a parent tell if a child is getting too little or too much homework?
Mohamed Kusow, the head teacher of Waberi primary school in Wajir County explains that homework is aimed at reinforcing what has been learnt in class.
‘While some will finish the homework before getting home and skip studying at home, where there might be more than a household chores do to ,others will finish earlier and use home time for revision ,’’ said Kusow who expressed regret that a section of pupil rely on copying others’ work.
He adds that there is need for parents to recognize the distinction between homework and revision and ensure that the child is balancing out on both.
Regrettably due to the high level of illiteracy and commitment elsewhere, some parents in the volatile North Eastern region do not follow up on their children’s homework.
‘If a child’s homework load is tiring him / her out, a parent can make a request to the teacher about it. As a parent, you are advised to supervise your child when they do their homework. However, you should not do it for them,’ warns Abdinassir Musa.
He says homework is between a child and his teacher hence parents shouldn’t stress on following up on every detail.
‘’Worrying about how and when homework is done shouldn’t be a parent’s burden. Children need to learn that doing their homework is their burden and responsibility,’’ said Mohamed Dure of Yathrib primary school in Garissa.
There are times when teachers and parents are on the warpath. How can this resolved for a child’s benefit?
Ole Hussein, a former headmaster in Garissa and the education minister in Wajir County believes that dialogue is of uttermost importance. He says never judge teacher’s action by what your child says about him or her.
‘Most often parents get carried away with comments from their children like ‘the teacher just doesn’t like me’. Later, they get embarrassed when they find out that the child was at fault,’’ said ole Hussein.
He advised parents to listen to the teacher’s side of the story so as not to damage the relationship between the parent and the teacher.
He regretted that in the past, there had been cases where parents had verbally and physically attacked the teachers.
‘By keeping an open mind and allowing your child the benefit of the doubt, you will ensure that your child can change for the better and respect a teacher’s authority.’ He said.
How can parents and teachers work to help a child who performs poorly in school?
Ole Hussein suggests that parents ought to talk to teachers so that a child can do the homework in school and be guided by the teacher where there is difficulty.
Ahmed Khere, the head teacher of Abdisameth primary school in Wajir county says parents can take turns in supervising a child but they need loads of patience and encouragement.
‘Don’t lose patience with the child if she/he can’t grasp something, and never nag, ’Khere advised.
He further explained that sometimes, a child has just had a tough day at school and the brain is too tired to allow anything more to sink in.
‘Allow the child to have a break and then try it again later, if the child seems more confused, send a note to the teacher to go over the problem with the student again,’’ he said.
Does extra coaching help a child or tire him out?
Khere says well organised coaching would be of great assistance to a child. He adds that a parent ought to confer with the child’s teacher to identify the problem areas and act on them promptly.
‘Do not encourage your children to cram notes at it may be mentally exhausting and challenging,’’ Khere remarked.
North Eastern Educationalist Grat Hassan said that,‘ Indeed a rising tide lifts all boats.’
What activities can a child handle without affecting his academic performance?
Jaribu primary school head teacher Mohamed Gedi Hassan says that different children have differing capabilities so both parents and teachers need to ship up.
‘They will then be in a better position to judge the kind of activities and how frequent a child can participate in the activities without negatively affecting his/her academic work. It is of uttermost importance that a child is allowed to rest and relax or do something that she /he likes just for fun, so the brain can be refreshed.’ said Gedi ,who added that this will tremendously improve a child’s concentration level and overall development.
