A lack of parental involvement in their children's education is said to be one of the reasons for the high failure rate last year.

This was expressed by many of the Junior National Council members during their second sitting in Windhoek.

The house was giving their views on the high failure rate of the Grade 11 results of 2022 and what should be done to improve performance. Many said parental involvement is of utmost importance.

"Parents are only coming in when the children are failing and blaming teachers while they don't know what is really going on in the classes. The whole year, the parents are just there asking you, did you study? And you are like, Yes, Yes, Yes, but when you go into the room, you go sit on your phone and look for excuses, or you daydream, or whatever you want," said Sheldon Boois, a Junior National Council Member from the ||Kharas Region.

"These learners only know their parent's participation in their education during school registration, when they have payments to make and parent meetings to attend. Apart from that, parents do not make the effort to attend unexpectedly just to check how the education system is or the learning and teaching system in class," said Getrud Kambinda, a representative from the Kavango West Region.

"Parents should be involved in their learners' education, not only because it enhances academic performances but also because it has a positive influence on students' attitudes and attendance. In some schools, we have a high rate of absenteeism," said Anzel |Goagoses from the Hardap Region.

"Parents do not monitor the work of their children, nor do they involve themselves in the lives of their children, leading to learners not doing their homework or ending up spending most of their time doing things they should not be doing," said Erongo Regional Representative, Allen Petrus.

According to Simon Shitana from the Kunene Region, "Even the best teachers will not be able to help children succeed academically if parents fail to recognize and fulfill their crucial role in this. The government can support as much as it can, but there will still be a limitation on students achieving excellence in their academics."

Joseph Hamutenya from |Khomas Region, however, mentioned that not all parents have a clue on how to assist with homework. 

"How do you expect me to motivate you to solve long division and X + b as a father and mother? Or to motivate you how to study biology or chemistry? Obviously I don't have experience with this. The National Council and National Assembly should make an act or law that implements that a learner on a specific day can bring a parent to school. This ensures or lets a parent have an ability or experience of what actually learners go through with specific subjects."