The National Public Relations Officer of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Irene Sam, has urged parents to pay greater attention to the emotional, psychological, health and security needs of their children rather than focusing solely on academic performance.
Speaking to Arafat Musah on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Irene Sam said children’s welfare extends beyond classroom learning and examination results, stressing that parents must be concerned about the overall well-being of their children, particularly those in boarding schools.
According to her, school management has a responsibility to ensure that students are protected and that their welfare needs are adequately addressed throughout their stay in school.
She explained that parents entrust their children to school authorities with the expectation that teachers and management will provide a safe environment for learning, just as parents would protect their children at home.
“Talking about welfare, it’s not only about academic; it’s about security, it’s about protection, it’s about health, and many more others that fall under welfare,” she said.
Irene Sam noted that although parents have a role to play in providing infrastructure and other forms of support to schools, the responsibility for students’ security and protection within the school environment rests primarily with school management.
She stressed that teachers are expected to act as parental figures while students are under their care and must therefore demonstrate the necessary commitment to safeguarding them from situations that could threaten their safety.
However expressed concern that some parents focus almost exclusively on their children’s academic achievements without paying sufficient attention to their emotional and psychological needs.
She said parents must move beyond asking whether their children are performing well academically and make deliberate efforts to understand their experiences, relationships and challenges, particularly when they are away from home.
According to her, maintaining a close relationship with children is essential to helping parents identify when something may be wrong and encouraging children to speak openly about their experiences.
She observed that some children may be going through difficult situations without their parents’ knowledge because of limited communication and the lack of sufficient time spent together.
Irene Sam attributed part of the challenge to the demanding schedules of working parents, explaining that some leave home early in the morning and return late at night, leaving them with little opportunity to interact meaningfully with their children.
She also raised concerns about the limited opportunities some parents have to visit children in boarding schools, noting that restrictions on visiting periods and the short time available during visits can make it difficult to understand what students are experiencing.
She maintained that parents must begin building strong relationships with their children from an early age to establish the trust and communication necessary for them to report concerns when they arise.
“When that rapport is well-timed, when the child is in school, you are able to develop or ascertain whatever the child is going through,” she said.
Irene Sam further called for greater attention to the specific needs of adolescent girls, insisting that their emotional and psychological well-being must receive the same consideration as their academic progress.
She urged parents to listen more attentively to their children and create an environment in which they feel comfortable discussing their concerns without fear or hesitation.
She emphasised that protecting students requires a broader understanding of child welfare, with parents and school authorities remaining attentive to the different challenges children may encounter during their education.
She maintained that while parents must remain actively involved in their children’s lives, school management must also fulfil its responsibility to provide a secure environment where students can learn and develop without fear.
Story By Pamela Quayson
