Parents’ role in school management low — report

Most parents do not play a role in the management of schools in the country, leaving the exercise to headteachers which undermines the essence for which parents’ committees were formed, says a new report.Released by Transparency International (TI) Rwanda, on Nine Year Basic Education (9YBE), the report assessed the contribution of parents through school management committees (SMC) and Parents-Teachers Committees (PTC).The two school committees are expected to manage the capitation grant which the Ministry of Education avails to all schools implementing 9YBE.About Rwf3,500 is sent to schools annually per child for operation costs.Schools also get some money from parents for teachers’ motivation.This varies from one school to another because it is purely a parents’ decision.The report, made public last week, highlights poor involvement of parents in managing the funds, which, in the long run can lead to abuse.The study was conducted in 70 schools from ten districts since January this year.It established that only 10 per cent of the parents’ committees participate in approving the schools’ annual budget, while 50 per cent engage in school development issues.Only 44 per cent of the parents who responded were satisfied with the parents’ committees participation in the school financial issues.Over 40 per cent of the parents said they cannot be fully involved in school resource management because it is not their business.“There is still a perception that when a parent sends a child to school, that’s all. Yet the way they eat, sleep and attend classes matter a lot,” said Catherine Gatete, the vice mayor in charge of social affairs in Nyamasheke District.Janvier Gasana, the deputy director general in charge of Education Quality and Standard at the Rwanda Education Board, urged parents to play a significant role in school management for the good of their children.“School management cannot be left to headteachers alone. Parents should monitor activities at school to ensure quality,” he said.In the validation meeting in Kigali, both parents and directors were represented.Both sides said they do their best to play their role in school management.Thadee Hakizumuremyi, the director of GS Mwoya in Nyaruguru District said “I can never take any decision without approval of parents’ committees except when it involves petty cash like replacing a damaged classroom door,” he said.With 900 students, GS Mwoya gets Rwf 3,150,000 in capitation grant per year.Every student pays Rwf2,000 per year for the teachers’ motivation.Elias Kanyamutuzo, the president of parents’ committee at GS Rwankeli, a parents’ school in Mukamira sector, Nyabihu District, said the school’s director can never take an important decision without their knowledge.“We even go beyond the budget and monitor the students’ and teachers’ behaviour,” he said.

National

Parents’ role in school management low — report