The Importance of Parents' Role in Education; Is It More Important Than School?

Education is a complex process that involves various parties in its development. Two main actors in a child's education are parents and schools. Children are a gift given to parents and a trust that will be accounted for in the hereafter. Therefore, parents must provide education not only in knowledge but also in religious values, as the family environment is the first place of education. Education within the family is the most fundamental for a child, shaping intelligence, character, and preparation for entering society.

However, the question arises: is the role of parents more important than that of schools in a child's education? There are strong reasons to support the idea that parents have a more significant impact compared to schools, although both complement each other.

First, education starts at home. From an early age, parents can help their children prepare for formal education. Parents teach basic values such as ethics, responsibility, and discipline, which form the foundation of a child's personality. Additionally, parents can build prerequisite skills like speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Even before children encounter formal education, they are accustomed to the mindset instilled by their parents. For example, children raised in an environment that values learning tend to have a higher motivation to learn in school.

Second, parents play a primary role in a child's emotional and character development. While schools may impart academic knowledge, character education and emotional development are more effectively conducted at home. The close relationship between parents and children creates a safe environment, allowing parents to provide strong emotional support, helping children develop self-confidence, social skills, and coping mechanisms, and listening to their feelings and concerns. With the right emotional support, children will be better equipped to face challenges in school.

Research conducted by the Harvard Family Research Project indicates that parental involvement in a child's education is directly related to better academic outcomes, higher motivation to learn, and positive behavior at school. Children who are supported by involved parents tend to be more successful than those whose parents are less engaged.

Moreover, besides academic aspects, the role of parents in shaping a child's character education is far more significant than that of schools. According to research published by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), children who receive moral and emotional support from their parents are better able to cope with social and academic pressures. This character education is difficult to teach in schools, which focus more on delivering academic content.

Of course, schools play an important role, such as providing a structured environment, a planned curriculum, and trained educators to teach complex topics. Schools also help children learn social skills in large groups and provide access to facilities and resources not available at home. However, the time they spend in school is limited; according to UNESCO data, students spend an average of 180 days in school each year for about seven hours a day. This means students spend more time at home than at school. Therefore, the role of parents in supervision and guidance outside of school hours is crucial. Schools provide the foundation for academics, but parents are the most important reinforcement in the ongoing educational process.

In conclusion, the role of parents in a child's education may be more fundamental than that of schools, as they influence the formation of values, character, and motivation from an early age. While schools are essential for providing formal education, parental support is key to maximizing the outcomes of that education. Ideally, effective education results from a synergy between home and school, where both work together to develop the child's potential comprehensively.