Empowering parental involvement in education

In a significant development for education advocacy, The Lesedi Solar Park Trust and Parent Power have joined forces to uplift parental engagement in their children’s educational journeys. Parent Power, driven by the mission to empower parents as influential stakeholders in education, aims to collaborate with schools, educational departments, and non-profit organizations (NPOs) to foster meaningful parent-school partnerships.

Last week Parent Power facilitated the first Izwi Lakho Connect session in the Northern Cape. Starting in Postmasburg and ending in Danielskuil the sessions brought role players in education together in conversation. Translated to ‘Your Voice’ in isiXhosa, Izwi Lakho is an initiative by Parent Power that aims to unite parents, schools, community members, and other stakeholders to exchange experiences, confront challenges, and discuss perspectives concerning their children’s education.

Parents from diverse backgrounds converged alongside school representatives and project members from the Lesedi Solar Park Trust to engage in constructive dialogue regarding the significance of parental involvement in schools and its implications for their children’s futures. The session provided an inclusive forum for attendees to share insights, address obstacles, and explore various viewpoints pertaining to education.

“I am very happy for the opportunity I had to be here today, it allowed me to learn a lot of new things. I learned that being a parent means to raise your child with love to ensure that they can prosper at school. I also learned that a child’s success begins at home, for them to reach bigger things we have to nurture and support them. As parents we are like the soil in which a flower is planted, the flower being your child will only grow and excel when the soil is fertile and other sources of energy are added such as light, rain and wind” (Priscila Moselelane)

The Izwi Lakho connect sessions emerged as a resounding success, underscoring the appetite for collaborative endeavors aimed at enhancing parental participation in education. Attendees used the opportunity to exchange ideas, offer solutions to existing challenges, and articulate their aspirations for the educational landscape.

When asked about the importance of such sessions, Steven Mollo (Parent Power Network Mobiliser) had this to say: “It is not the sole responsibility of the school to ensure that every child receives quality education, but parents, the community and other stakeholders also have a role to play. It brings us joy to see parents realise this at the end of sessions and plan on ways forward”

The partnership between The Lesedi Solar Park Trust and Parent Power marks a promising step towards fostering a culture of parental engagement in education. Through initiatives like Izwi Lakho Connect, stakeholders are empowered to contribute meaningfully to the educational journey of children, thereby fostering holistic development and academic success. As this collaboration gains momentum, it is poised to catalyze transformative change in the educational ecosystem, ensuring that every child receives the support and guidance necessary to thrive.