PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS

Mr Ahmad Mohd Magad asked the Minister for Education (a) how many schools have established Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs); (b) whether schools with PTAs (i) are effective in fostering shared responsibility between teachers and parents in the children's education; and (ii) have less complaints by parents against teachers.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Encik Mohamad Maidin B P M) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, about two-thirds of our schools have established parent support structures. Out of these, about 5% of them have registered parent-teacher associations (PTAs) and about 65% have established parent support groups (PSGs). Parent support groups are more informal, allowing parents to contribute their time and effort whenever they are able to do so, and the remaining schools are in varying stages of setting up their parent support structures.

These structures have helped foster a shared responsibility between parents and teachers in the children's education. The PTAs and PSGs serve as a channel of communication and feedback between parents and the school, and help develop better parent-school understanding.

The PTAs and PSGs also participate in the organisation and execution of school activities for the school children. Many of them bring valuable expertise and experience for the benefit of the school children.

Sir, up to now, we do not have data on the number of complaints by parents against teachers at the school level. However, the general feeling among principals is that the regular dialogue between PTAs, PSGs and the schools, and their participation in school activities have resulted in an improvement in the relationship between the schools and parents.