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RESPONDING to parents’ complaints that schoolteachers place an unreasonable amount of pressure on students with requests to purchase materials for their classes, the Ministry of Education earlier this year instructed teachers not to burden students with such requests. However, parents, many of who struggle to bear the financial costs of such requests, say teachers continue to ask students to buy miscellaneous supplies for their classes. In their defense, educators say the supplies help students learn and absorb concepts better, Al-Riyadh daily reports.
Abbas Al-Mayoof, a social media activist, said there is no harm if teachers ask students to bring something like a board or some paint as long as it will help students absorb the curricula better and enhance their skills and capabilities.
“I think the best solution for parents is to contact the school principal or the teacher and ask them why they ask their children to buy and bring certain things to school and what good it will bring to them academically. If parents decide that the teacher’s request will not help develop their children’s skills, they can complain officially to the Ministry of Education. No teacher has the right to demand too many things from students anyway,” he explained.
Fuad Al-Hamad, another social media activist, said most parents are tightening their belts these days by cutting down on unnecessary expenses. Some of them fall under the low-income bracket and struggle to get by, something he said teachers should consider carefully before asking students to buy extra stationery or other materials.
“Some parents cannot really afford to buy extra materials and have to borrow money from relatives or friends. But how many times and for how long will they need to borrow money? Some clarity and planning can go a long way in minimizing the financial impact on parents,” he said.
Al-Hamad suggested that each school should meet with teachers at the beginning of the school year and ask them what materials they want students to bring for the year and which ones are mandatory and optional. A list of materials should then be sent to parents so they can plan and set aside the budget.
“It is important also that teachers do not tie grades with these materials. In other words, a student who cannot bring materials a teacher asks for, should not be punished when it comes to grading,” he added.
Ayoub Al-Shiba, a father, said most teachers ask their students to bring the same materials several times over the course of the semester. For example, home economics teachers request students to bring drawing brushes several times over a period of three months. Some teachers ask students to bring decorative materials to class twice during the semester.
Asked to comment, Jawhra Al-Qahtani, director of educational supervision in Al-Ahsa, said the Ministry of Education has directed teachers not to burden students with excessive requests for materials.
“We send letters to schools urging teachers not to ask students to bring materials unless they will be useful to students in terms of improving their skills and enhancing their capabilities,” she said.
