I DON'T have children but I have been writing on education issues for well over a decade now, so I know only too well how parents struggle with educational decisions and choices.
Should I pick a top primary school or a neighbourhood one near my home? Should I hire a tutor for my Primary One child? How can I motivate my child to do better in school?
I have been asked all these questions and more. That’s why I decided to put together all the research evidence I have gathered over the years to let parents know how they can help their child do better in school.
Many parents rely on anecdotal evidence and sometimes even misinformation from other parents to make their decisions.
My suggestion is: Talk to the experts on education - the teachers, school heads, even educational psychologists. You can also read parenting books written by the experts.
A lot of the information on educational research is just a Google click away. There’s a constant refrain in all the journal articles and books I have read on education. It is that parents and teachers have an effect on how youngsters perform in school.
Parents and their teachers can and do make a significant difference.
But remember, you can never make choices that are absolutely right. All you can do is make choices that are well-informed, based on sensible and fair-minded considerations.
Happy parenting!
Read Sandra's Saturday Special Report on the eight things you can do to help your child sail through school here.