Parental involvement: fathers want to be even more involved.

Parental involvement: fathers want to be even more involved.

Many fathers are actively involved in their child's education, but schools still miss chances to strengthen that involvement. This is shown by a new survey by Ouders & Onderwijs among fathers from the Landelijk Ouderpanel.

Fathers already do a lot and want to keep doing that

Most fathers are currently involved in school in various ways. For example, 85% help their child with schoolwork at home and 84% talk at school about their child’s development. Many fathers also take educational activities themselves, such as a museum visit.

The ways fathers are involved now match well with how they want to be more involved. A large majority say they want to keep helping their child at home and stay in conversation with school. Besides helping and talking, it stands out that more than half of the fathers want to help think about school policy.

Not all fathers feel seen by school

Not every father feels sufficiently involved by the school. 43% think the school involves them enough, but a quarter are unhappy about it.

A common reason is that communication often first goes through the mother. Fathers say this means they are less directly addressed or informed.

What can schools do better?

According to fathers, there are clear areas for improvement for schools:

• Communicate actively with both parents and do not automatically focus on the mother
• Plan meetings well in advance and consider working hours
• Create more opportunities to think along at school

Fathers say they especially want to feel taken seriously. Involvement is, in their view, a shared responsibility between school and parents.

Proud fathers

Fathers are especially proud of their child. They mention not only school achievements but also the personal and social development. Making friends, daring to be themselves, and continuing to develop in class are all points fathers mention they are proud of.

Join in: let your voice be heard as a father

Are you also a proud father? And do you want to share your stories? Then sign up for the Landelijk Ouderpanel. With your input, you help to better understand what is happening among parents and where schools and policy can make a difference.

About the research

The survey was conducted from June 3 to June 10, 2026 among 86 fathers with school-going children. The results are indicative and not representative.