Let your voices be heard parents- Thwaites
Published:Sunday | July 15, 2018 | 12:00 AMJodi-Ann Gilpin/Gleaner Writer
Even as persons celebrated with Lennon Richards who took over as president of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) on Saturday, the Reverend Ronald Thwaites is urging the organisation to play a greater role in the formation of government policies.
Richards takes over from Everton Hannam, who has been at the helm of the organisation since 2012.
Thwaites, opposition spokes-person on education, who was addressing the NPTAJ's 6th Biennial General Meeting and National Conference, declared that parents should not be afraid to make their voices be heard.
"I urge you to realise the need to have an active PTA (parent-teacher association) in every one of the schools in Jamaica. I would also love for this association to play a much stronger role than it has in the past, in the formation of national education policy," he said.
"Don't leave education policies to the government of the day and the opposition alone. As policymakers, we have to do our part, but parents, education is our responsibility, too. You must insist at a place at the table in the formation of government policies. It is your right," he declared.
He also pleaded with persons to ensure that they do not become complacent with embracing single-parent households, noting that children need both parents.
"Children need stability in order to grow properly. God bless single parents, they are extra heroes and heroines of our society, but you know it can be difficult. We have to train up our children to make the right choices about partners that they choose, so that the next generation will have the opportunity and the benefit of two parents."