Staat van de Ouder 2024: Ode aan de Ouder!.

Staat van de Ouder 2024: Ode aan de Ouder!.

Despite the challenges in education, parents have been positive about the relationship with school for years. Contrary to the negative image parents face, they highly appreciate teachers and are involved with the school in many ways. Parents also think cooperation has improved in the past 10 years. This appears from our annual report the Staat van de Ouder.

The image of parents is however very different. Standing up for your child is often seen as ‘too assertive’, ‘curling parent’ or ‘nosy’. Reservedness from parents is then quickly seen as insufficient involvement with school. Through our advice point we hear that parents find it therefore hard to talk to the school. A pity, because this does not help the relationship. While children do benefit from a good relationship between school and parents. That is why this year we bring a tribute to the parent. 

Relation between parents and school positive for years 

For years parents have appreciated the relationship with school and the contact with teachers positively. The school involves them well in education, takes parents seriously and keeps agreements. One in six parents is unhappy. Most parents think it normal to help at school and do that a few hours a month on average. In short: without these parents the school would run much harder.

Difference primary education and secondary education

There are some striking differences between parents with a child in primary school and parents with a child in secondary school. In primary education parents are more positive about contact with the teacher. Parents unsurprisingly feel closer to the primary school and also help more there. Still, they also feel more often overwhelmed, while parents in secondary education actually want to do more at school

Two or fewer parent interviews is too few 

A parent interview is an important contact moment for parents with school. During this interview they hear how their child is doing, cognitively and socially-emotionally. If it does not go well, you can make agreements together to help the child. Most parents are invited two or three times a year for an interview at school. No, one or two interviews a year is too few for most parents. That is why we plead to plan at least three interviews a year with parents. 

 

Insufficient connection between parents and School participation council 

There has been a gap between parents and the School participation council for years. Parents have difficulty finding the School participation council and do not know well what is discussed. Especially in secondary education the gap is big. Also the parents in the School participation council struggle with contact with parents. They see their work in the School participation council as useful, are taken seriously and the cooperation is good. Points for attention are a good introduction and a lack of knowledge and information. 

Attention needed for parent involvement in mbo 

Although 32% of mbo students are minors, parents are still kept too far away. Also if a child wants parents to be involved. Compared to their peers in havo and vwo, minor mbo students are expected to be more independent much earlier. While these young people often still really need support from their parents, especially students with a support need. 

Also participation is, except for a few initiatives, very limited for parents. Parents in primary and secondary education have a formal place to discuss policy, but this is not the case in mbo. It is not required to have a parent council, mbo schools do not actively recruit for it and the rights of such a parent council are limited. Time to change that. 

10 recommendations from Ouders & Onderwijs 

In the Staat van de Ouder 2024 you will find not only the results of our research, but we also come to a number of recommendations to improve parent involvement at school: 

• Formulate a clear, constructive vision on parent involvement within each School governing body. Involve parents in establishing it. 
• Start each school year with an introductory interview so the mentor and parents already know each other and can make a positive start together. 
• Involve parents regularly in their child’s progress at school and provide parents at least with information about that progress. Ensure at least three interviews with parents per year at each school. 
• Inform parents timely, actively and in clear language about their rights and duties. 
• Communicate clearly within secondary education about how parents can help at school. Within primary education make sure parents are not overwhelmed. 
• Make parent consultations mandatory for more topics and set requirements for how this consultation should happen. 
• Offer new parents in participation a standard introduction course. 
• Provide official support for each Joint participation council. 
• Require mbo institutions to set up a parent council or implement the participation system from primary and secondary education at mbo. 

10 years Ouders & Onderwijs 

Since 2014 Ouders & Onderwijs has been working for the interests of parents. For 10 years we have advised and helped parents with school age children and stood beside them. We have helped more than 100,000 parents with various questions and situations. 

Ouders & Onderwijs has been active on various education themes in the last 10 years, such as Tailored Education, teacher shortages, school costs and parental contributions, the move from primary to secondary education and much more. Since 2017 we also ask parents their opinion through our Landelijk Ouderpanel, which now has more than 9,000 parents. 

We are proud of what we have achieved and look forward to the next 10 years!