After mega drive, government schools in Bengaluru told to hold bi-monthly PTMs | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: The department of school education and literacy has directed all govt schools to conduct parent-teacher meetings (PTMs) every two months, following the success of the statewide mega-PTM drive held on Nov 14. Previously, govt schools were required to hold PTMs every three months, but compliance was low.During the mega-PTM, schools were instructed to ensure a minimum number of parents participated and to provide updates on student performance, facilities, and school activities. Buoyed by the positive response to the mega-PTM, the department has issued a circular mandating that primary and high schools hold PTMs bi-monthly and report attendance figures.
Rashmi Mahesh, principal secretary of department of school education and literacy, said, “Restoration of credibility and confidence of the community in the public school system is important. Regular PTMs are a way of improving this factor.” These PTMs, she noted, will help bridge communication gaps among parents, schools, and students. “Nowadays, parents tell us that children do not communicate as they used to in the pre-digital era, before the rise of social media. This feedback was the most common during the mega-PTM drive,” she added.Parents’ associations have welcomed this decision. Sijo Sebastian, secretary of Voice of Parents’ Association, said, “Regular PTMs provide an opportunity for parents and teachers to assess a child’s progress, exchange feedback, and collaboratively identify areas for improvement. This approach not only benefits the child but also encourages both parents and teachers to take their roles more seriously. It is a vital platform for addressing concerns, setting goals, and tracking progress.“However, some govt teachers have expressed concerns about the feasibility of parents attending PTMs frequently. A teacher from an east Bengaluru school remarked, “Most parents are daily wage labourers. They may not be willing to lose a day’s wages. If these meetings become regular, they might worry about their pay. We will need to find suitable times to encourage their participation, which will require considerable effort to convince them to come to school.“The circular on bi-monthly PTMs did not include provision for lunch for parents and students, unlike the arrangements made for the mega-PTM.
