UNICEF: Parental involvement keeps kids in school in Argentina

RESISTENCIA, Argentina, 8 September 2009 For the first six months of first grade, Maria Angel Gomez struggled to keep up with the other students. She showed little interest in her school work and was slowly falling behind. She couldn't read and her mother worried that Maria Angel would fail and need to repeat first grade, a common problem in Argentina.

But when a new approach to teaching was put in place, Maria Angel began to flourish. This innovative strategy focused on new, practical ways to teach math, literature and science. Extra attention was paid to children at risk of failing, especially in the crucial first year of school.

The new teaching strategy, which was developed with UNICEF, encourages parents to play an active role in their childrens learning.

At the beginning and end of each school day, parents gather outside the school and discuss students progress with the teachers and other parents. They share success stories as well as frustrations and ideas about how to help children who are having trouble.

By engaging children when they're young, teachers and parents are decreasing the likelihood that they'll drop out when they reach high school.

To read the full story, visit http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/argentina_51077.html

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• UNICEF
• CRC
• Convention
• Rights
• Child
• Argentina
• Resistencia
• schools
• education
• children