Sushant Kumar B.K.
At the beginning of this academic New Year, a very conscientious and diligent teacher from my school approached me almost a week ago; the teacher had held a student’s hand while bringing him into the office. The teacher said, “Sir, he scored well in my subject in the annual examination result for grade seven. Sir, it seems impossible. I believe he cheated; that’s the only way he could have passed.” He then proceeded to interrogate the student, harshly asking, “Tell me, and how did you achieve those marks in grade seven?”
I asked the teacher not to worry, showing him the exam ledger in which he had passed all subjects. I also told him that he deserves every right to be in the current grade. He further explained, “Sir, the Basic Level Examination (BLE, grade 8) holds immense significance for private schools like ours. If we fail to ensure a high percentage of students pass, we will definitely have a low number of students in the upcoming academic year. And he will be the reason for that because the municipality of this area closely monitors exam centers to prevent cheating. Therefore, if anyone fails to pass the exam, our goal of achieving a 100% pass rate won’t happen.
During the inquiry process, I asked the same question to the student. He explained that for the past three months, he had studied alongside his father, who had arrived home from a neighboring country. During the evening, while his father read newspapers, he studied textbooks, observing his father’s reading habits. This incident reminded me of a recent occurrence involving my delightful niece, who is around five years old. She often plays with me, but one day she attempted to undress her upper garments and sleep. I was surprised and asked her why. She replied, “You already took off your top clothes to sleep.” This incident made me realize that children often emulate the behaviors of their parents or guardians, imitate them, and learn.
These examples are true reflections that illustrate that parents should give some time to their children if they want to provide them with a good education. Parental involvement greatly influences children’s academic success. Therefore, parents must make an effort to engage their children in educational activities and set a positive example for them to follow. In the journal article published on JSTOR titled “Why Do Parents Become Involved in Their Children’s Education,” Kathleen V. Hoover-Dempsey and Howard M. Sandler (Vanderbilt University) have also stated, “…Parental involvement in child and adolescent education generally benefits children’s learning and school success, their involvement functions to create positive outcomes for their children of all ages.”
In a nutshell, some parenting programs should be incorporated into the school curriculum to empower parents with the necessary skills and knowledge to support their children’s educational journey effectively. By integrating such programs, educational policymakers can then expect that parents are equipped with strategies to meaningfully engage in their children’s academic pursuits. Through collaborative efforts among parents, educators, and policymakers, we can foster a supportive, positive, and productive environment where every child/student has the opportunity to thrive academically and fulfill their potential. Therefore, it is imperative that educational policymakers prioritize parental involvement in schools’ education as a cornerstone of academic success and personal development.
Sushant Kumar B.K. is a Nepali poet, translator, educator and freelance writer who is from Gulariya, Bardiya, Nepal. He writes poems in English and Nepali languages. His poems have been featured in national and international anthologies, magazines, newspapers, and online portals. He can be reached at sushantacademia@gmail.com.
