New programme to encourage activities which involve fathers

Children with involved dads exhibit more positive attitudes towards school, do better in class, and have fewer discipline problems, among other things.

WHERE have all the fathers gone?

In schools, at least, they are hardly a presence, even though many activities are meant to engage both mum and dad.

Fathers make up less than 30 per cent of the turnout at activities such as parent-child school camps or parent-teacher associations.

Their participation is especially low in parent support groups and parent volunteer programmes - the turnout of dads does not even hit 30 per cent.

The low scores for fathers were revealed in a survey of schools by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) last year.

Principals, vice-principals and heads of department in 218 primary and secondary schools were asked to give their perceptions of the benefits of fathers' participation in schools, and identify challenges in engaging them.

By Melissa Kok

Straits Times