Parents of school-going children can now share their perspectives on key policies through the new “Parents’ Voices” platform.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) in Singapore has introduced a new initiative, Parents’ Voices, aimed at collecting feedback from parents on key educational policies and issues. The initiative will involve a series of surveys, with over 10,000 parents randomly selected from the MOE’s database invited to participate. The surveys will cover a range of topics and will be conducted periodically to ensure diverse representation across different educational levels, including primary, secondary, and pre-university.
A New Platform for Parental Engagement
The Parents’ Voices platform complements MOE’s ongoing efforts to engage with parents, which also includes channels such as schools and parent support groups. Parents will be asked to complete several surveys each year to provide their opinions on various education-related matters. This initiative is expected to further enhance communication between the ministry and parents.
Parent Involvement in Policy Shaping
Dr Khoo Ai Leng, a pharmacist and mother of four, expressed her hope that the surveys would serve not just as a tool for engagement but also as a way for parents to provide feedback on potential policy changes before they are implemented. She emphasized the importance of considering parents’ concerns to adjust policies accordingly, particularly regarding how children learn at home.
MOE’s Efforts to Increase Parental Involvement
The MOE has been increasingly active in fostering parent engagement over the years. Notable efforts include launching webinars, live sessions on social media, and guidelines for schools to work more closely with families. In 2019, the MOE released guidelines aimed at helping children build self-management skills and resilience, developed in collaboration with both schools and parents.
Through the Parents Gateway app, parents have access to resources curated by MOE specialists and educators. The app features a Parent Kit that offers tips and advice on parenting, further supporting parents in their involvement with their children’s education.
Concerns about Digital Learning
Ms Mehraj Begum, a 36-year-old education sector professional, expressed her hope that the new initiative would allow parents to influence future education policies. As a mother of two young children, Ms Begum is particularly concerned about the integration of digital learning in schools following the launch of the EdTech Masterplan 2030. She hopes that the initiative will help strike a balance between screen time and meaningful learning, especially as online learning platforms become more prominent.
Ms Begum stressed that it was important for parents to be informed and have a say when policy changes directly affect their children’s education.
