How Can We Bring More Parents to PTMs?

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Hello dear fellows,
In our village schools PTM(parent teacher meetings) are still a new idea many parents don’t attend maybe because of work lack of awareness or they feel nervous coming to school but I’ve seen that when even one parent comes and hears something good about their child it brings such happiness and confidence to the student we try small things inviting parents personally choosing a day according to there availability and making sure every parent hears something positive slowly it’s making a difference.

Dear fellows please share ideas that can help more parents feel encouraged to attend PTMs.

We started hosting PTMs alongside small student performances or exhibitions—parents feel proud and more excited to attend.

Sending voice notes or personal invitations in the local language made parents feel more welcomed and less anxious.

We began offering tea and a relaxed, friendly environmentturning PTMs into community gatherings, not just formal meetings.

@Sayeda-Afshan Aslam o Alaikum dear,
PTM is a commonly used in all educational institutions and this is also a fact that still there are schools like you which are unaware of this term. I think the betterments may be guided to parents by going door to door. It will realize them the fact of meeting and they will be aware of their child's progress and the future activities you had planned for their child. I think creation of interest will realize them to come and attend the PTM.
What is best way other than this? Any other can reply this post for a better plan to have a fruitfull PTM.
Regards

@Sayeda-Afshan
Hello dear fellows,
Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s true that in many village schools, PTMs are still new and attendance can be low due to various reasons like work, lack of awareness, or nervousness. Your approach of personally inviting parents, scheduling meetings based on their availability, and ensuring every parent hears something positive is wonderful and encouraging. Small steps like these can build trust and motivate more parents to participate. Maybe we can also involve community leaders to spread awareness or organize informal gatherings alongside PTMs to make parents feel more comfortable. Looking forward to hearing more ideas from everyone!

@Sayeda-Afshan It’s heartwarming to see the positive impact of even one parent attending a PTM. Your efforts like choosing convenient times, personal invitations, and sharing positive feedback are truly making a difference.

Here are a few ideas to encourage more parent participation:

Hold PTMs in familiar community spaces to make parents feel more at ease.

Try student-led PTMs where children share their progress it boosts involvement and pride.

Offer small tokens of appreciation (like tea or a thank-you note) to make parents feel valued.

Involve respected community members to help raise awareness.

Ensure a warm, respectful tone during meetings so parents feel safe and welcomed.

Follow up with absent parents via phone or short visits—just hearing something positive can build trust.

Small steps like yours create long-term change. Keep it up you're doing something very meaningful!

@Sayeda-Afshan creating a welcoming environment, offering flexible options for participation, communicating regularly and effectively, and recognizing and appreciating parental contributions.

Bringing more parents to PTMs in Sindh villages requires a localized, culturally sensitive approach that considers literacy levels, mobility challenges, and social dynamics. Here’s a strategy tailored to the context of rural Sindh:
How to Bring More Parents to PTMs in Sindh Villages

1. Involve Community Leaders & Influencers

Engage village elders, religious leaders (imams), or social influencers to endorse PTMs.
When respected figures emphasize the importance of education, more parents feel encouraged to attend.

2. Use Local Languages & Simple Messaging

Communicate in Sindhi or the local dialect.
Use clear, respectful, and non-academic language in invitations and reminders.

3. Make Announcements in Mosques and Local Gatherings

Ask imams to announce the PTM during Friday prayers.
Use community events, village baithaks, or even local melas to spread the word.

4. Use Door-to-Door Personal Invitations

Have teachers or local volunteers visit homes with personal invites.
A face-to-face request is often more effective in rural communities than written notices.

5. Create a Welcoming and Respectful Environment

Treat parents as equal partners, not just guests or observers.
Offer tea, snacks, and a friendly tone — small gestures go a long way.

6. Align PTM Timing with Local Routines

Schedule meetings after working hours, like in the late afternoon or after Maghrib prayers.
Avoid harvest times or market days when parents are busiest.

7. Involve Students

Ask students to prepare performances, speeches, or drawings to display.
Parents are more likely to attend if their child is part of something being presented.

8. Combine PTMs with Other Services

Offer health check-ups, free eye camps, or government service info sessions alongside the PTM.
This gives parents an added reason to attend.

9. Gender Sensitivity

For areas with gender restrictions, organize separate sessions for mothers and fathers, possibly led by female and male teachers respectively.

10. Follow Up with Appreciation

Thank parents who came — publicly or privately.
Share how their attendance benefited their child’s progress and encourage them for the next PTM.

Involve students in creating personal invitation cards or videos for their parents—it adds a heartfelt touch. Also, offer flexible timing or short online slots for working parents to join in easily.

@Afshan @Sanaa @Shaista-Begum @Sanam @Mariya @Engr-Zeeshan @Dilkasha @MARYA31abbb94d4

Thank you dear fellows for your kind responses and valuable suggestions. Each idea shared here brings hope and inspiration for better parent engagement in future inshaAllah truly grateful and Looking forward to hearing more creative and practical ideas from you all!

Iam also belong to rural area so being a teacher over there Iam agreed with your statement.i think villagers are normally uneducated.tjey don't know how to behave at school how they should have to take interest in their children's daily school routine or education because they think its not necessary for them especially for their girls. As early child marriage is common in them .
I think being a teachers it's our responsibility to call PTM at least twice a month to educate parents and encouragement them to accept and perform their parents duties very well ..