With the start of the new school year quickly approaching, parents and teachers alike are busy making preparations for their children’s first days of school. Given the current state of our education system, it is crucial for all stakeholders in education to recognize their responsibility in reducing our country’s high rate of learning poverty.
While some may be hesitant to take on teaching responsibilities, we believe that parents have a tremendous potential to support the Department of Education in its monumental task. Parents are not only their children’s first teachers, but they should also be their lifelong educators. In this age of information technology, children who succeed are those who become independent learners early on and develop lifelong learning skills. They also acquire the soft skills necessary for the modern workplace. However, before learning these skills, there are prerequisites that parents can promote and teach their children, namely curiosity and autonomy. These two skills can be nurtured simultaneously, whether at home or in the classroom.
By nurturing children’s curiosity, they learn how to find answers to their own questions and become independent thinkers. Conversely, encouraging them to explore and granting them more freedom widens their perspectives, fueling their curiosity and making learning a never-ending process. Grade school children are naturally curious, always asking questions in an effort to understand the world around them. It is essential for parents and other adults in the family to acknowledge and support this curiosity in order to cultivate a love for learning. Curious children should be given the opportunity to actively and safely explore and discover new knowledge on their own. This autonomy allows smart children to develop creative outputs and inventions, fostering a sense of accomplishment and inspiring further exploration.
Adults do not need to provide all the answers when addressing children’s questions. Instead, it is helpful and safer to share one’s own ideas without biases or prejudiced conclusions, unless factual answers are required. What is more important than providing answers is asking children what they think about their questions and why they are interested in asking them. This encourages a deeper and more meaningful conversation, leading to the development of their own understanding and the best possible answers to their questions. This approach not only fosters learning but also indirectly teaches important life skills such as communication, critical thinking, decision-making, and relationship-building.
Recognizing that education is a joint responsibility of the home and school, parents can think of countless ways to support their children’s learning. From engaging in simple daily conversations to participating in activities together for pleasure or educational gain, such as playing computer games, cooking or baking, gardening, reading or telling stories, and problem-solving, parents can actively participate in their children’s education. They can even create joint projects like writing a story, composing short poems, making videos or vlogs, and much more. With the abundance of technological resources available, parents and children can continue engaging in lifelong learning together.
In conclusion, there is no reason for learning poverty to persist in any country if adults love their children and care deeply about their future. By recognizing their role in education and actively supporting their children’s learning, parents can make a significant impact in reducing learning poverty and ensuring a brighter future for their children.
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