Parents and School

Original title: Ouders bij de les. The government is increasingly withdrawing from playing a foreground role in primary and secondary education, transferring competences to local authorities, school boards and school management. Parents are also assigned a role in this process, based on the philosophy that giving parents greater influence will improve the quality of education. Whether parents share this view, and have a desire to play a more prominent role, is however unclear. Accordingly, this study asked parents for their attitudes towards schools and for their opinions on schools and education. The study looks first at how involved parents are in their children's school. It explores their participation in school bodies (such as the parents council) and in activities (e.g. excursions), and how they see their role in their children's education. Differences are also explored, for example between individual parents and between parents of children in primary school and parents of secondary schoolchildren. Do parents and government have the same views on parental participation? One vexed issue is the question of the parental contribution, always the subject of debate. Here, parents are asked whether they are aware of the amount of that contribution and the use to which it is put, and also that it is in fact voluntary. They are also asked what they think about the contribution and the possibility of it increasing. Finally, the study looks at the structuring of the school week and at in-school and after-school childcare, topics which receive a good deal of attention from all concerned. In particular, the unexpected and regular cancellation of lessons exercises people. What are parents' experiences with this and what are their wishes? This study explores all of these issues