The Region Five Department of Education on Thursday honoured 100 mothers for their significant contributions to the education system in the region through their involvement in the life of the child or children at their respective nursery, primary or secondary schools.
According to a Ministry of Education (MoE) release, the award ceremony was held at the Latchmansingh Primary School under the theme, “Paradise lies at the feet of mothers.”
Senior Schools’ Welfare Officer (SSWO) of the region, Gloria Davidson-James said that over the past years the welfare section of the Department of Education has conducted truancy campaigns and counselled children with behavioural issues throughout the region. She stressed that the Department believes that parental involvement is important in children’s lives.
According to Davidson, the initiative to honour mothers began two years ago when it was discovered that parental involvement was minimal across the region. She said that through consultation, it was decided that a competition should be held to encourage parents to become more involved in the academic lives of their children as research has shown that when parents are involved, children perform better, stay in school longer and are more likely to graduate.
Among the criteria considered when selecting the parents to be honoured, Davidson explained that parents must attend Parent-Teacher Association meetings of the school and must be a motivator to their children as well as other children and parents of the school.
