National Parenting Support Commission to provide training to parents

In an effort to rebuild good family structures and decrease violence in schools islandwide, some 100,000 parents will be provided with training by the National Parenting Support Commission.

Fayval Williams, Minister of Education and Youth, made the announcement at the post-Cabinet press briefing held on Wednesday morning at Jamaica House.

This comes as November is to be marked as Parent's Month. 

Although a figure was not disclosed as to how much the training will cost the government, Williams said a plan for the exercise has already been formulated.

She noted that the initiative will be led by Kaysia Kerr, Chief Executive Officer, National Parenting Support Commission.

"The delivery plan has been formulated and shared with schools across Jamaica outlining the new target of providing 100,000 parents with parenting education and training, as well as strategies to be employed in reaching this target," Williams said. 

She said all public and registered private educational institutions are required to deliver parenting education training to their parent populations.

The commission is currently coordinating meetings with education officers, school administrators, guidance counsellors, deans of discipline and other professionals in schools to ensure that the Citizen Security Programme (CSP) guidelines are understood.

"The meetings serve as a guarantee that the quality of the Parenting Education Programme will not be compromised," she said. 

The commission's officers continue to provide oversight by making daily contact with school personnel for the provision of technical support.

Additionally, parent mentorship training is currently underway with trainees recommended from ministries, departments, agencies and school leadership and hail from all seven educational regions in Jamaica.  

For this initiative, Williams said Parent Places islandwide, which were closed due to the pandemic, have been reactivated, with an additional 10 parent places to be reactivated before the school term ends in December.

Parent Places provide parents with parent education, psychosocial support, skills training and counselling.

Parent Places are primarily in schools and roving parent places are looked into as well.

National Parent Month for 2023 will be guided by the team 'Participation for Purpose'. 

- Ainsworth Morris

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