Recently, I found myself inundated with inquiries from concerned parents. They wanted to understand why their children needed to spend long extra-hours at school, especially in preparation for external exams. With an increasing number of students enrolled in private schools, the expectations for teaching and learning standards have risen.

One particular parent was deeply upset. His frustration led him to visit the school personally. “My daughter attends the regular school lessons, which we already pay for,” he explained. “Now, we’re expected to pay for additional lessons that keep her at school until 6 PM from Monday to Thursday. And mind you, we’re already paying hefty school fees!”

Curious, I delved into the matter further. It turns out that this situation isn’t unique to the specific school in question. Across different schools, the practice of extended hours varies. Let’s explore this issue from a balanced perspective.

The need for family life

Importance of Family Bonding: Strong family relationships are crucial for a child's emotional well-being and social development. Excessive schoolwork or activities can limit quality time for families to connect and build those bonds.

Childhood Development: Unstructured playtime is essential for children to explore their creativity, develop social skills, and learn problem-solving through play. Overscheduling with school activities can leave little room for this vital aspect of childhood.

Parental Involvement: Family time allows parents to participate in and support their child's learning journey. Excessive school-related demands can leave parents feeling overwhelmed and limit their ability to connect with their children.

Passing on the torch: children learn family values, tradition and culture through the everyday involvement in family activities – formal and informal. Some of these activities are both age/development and needs based, hence the importance of children being available as and when due.

Stress and Burnout: For both children and parents, overscheduled days can lead to stress and burnout. Adequate time for relaxation and rejuvenation is crucial for maintaining mental and emotional well-being.

Schools Needing More Time

Academic Achievement: In today's competitive world, schools feel pressure to ensure students are well-prepared for external examinations, higher education and future careers. This may require additional instruction time or activities to supplement the core curriculum.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL): Schools increasingly recognize the importance of teaching important life skills like teamwork, communication, and emotional regulation. Dedicated time is needed for SEL programs that are often integrated into the school day.

Closing the Achievement Gap: Schools with underprivileged populations might prioritize extended time for interventions or after-school programs to support struggling students and bridge the achievement gap.

Parental Work Schedules: With many parents working long hours, schools can provide a safe and supervised environment for students before and after school hours.

Finding a Balance

Efficient use of school time: Focusing on effective teaching methods and maximizing learning within the existing school day.

Meaningful homework: Assigning purposeful tasks that reinforce learning without being overly burdensome.

Collaboration with parents: Providing clear communication about expectations and encouraging parental involvement in learning activities.

Parents can

Advocate for reasonable workloads: Communicate concerns about excessive school demands and advocate for appropriate time allocation.

Prioritize family time: Schedule dedicated time for unstructured play, shared activities, and family meals. Gradually integrate children into the daily running of the home

Quality over quantity: Focus on making the most of the time spent together, connecting on a deeper level.

Ultimately, the decision of how much "encroachment" is acceptable depends on individual circumstances and priorities. Open communication and collaboration between schools and families are key to finding a healthy balance that supports both academic achievement and strong family bonds. It is of paramount importance to consider the peculiar circumstances the child involved maybe be challenged with, their emotional, academic and psychological needs at the time.