HIBAPRESS-Jérada
The discussion about the role of the Federation of Mothers, Fathers, and Guardians Associations in the province of Jérada is no longer a luxury. It has become imperative to ask direct questions about the nature of its performance and the extent to which its presence within the educational landscape impacts the reality of students and the expectations of families.
The role entrusted to these bodies is far greater than merely attending official meetings and gatherings, and posing for cameras to take souvenir photos, then publishing them on social media as if mere attendance were an achievement in itself. The true value of any body representing guardians is not measured by the number of occasions it attends, nor by the number of photos documenting its participation, but rather by the initiatives, stances, and advocacy it offers that serve public education and defend the interests of students.
The question that urgently arises in Jérada is: Where does the role of this federation become apparent when families face real problems related to schooling? Where is its voice when issues of overcrowding, school transportation, school dropout, reception conditions within educational institutions, and disparities between urban and rural areas are raised? Where are its initiatives when families need someone to convey their concerns to the responsible authorities and follow up on files until concrete solutions are found?
Advocacy work cannot be reduced to attending a meeting or participating in an official activity, nor can a souvenir photo be considered evidence of achieving results. What is required is a shift from the logic of ceremonial appearances to the logic of field work, by listening to families, identifying shortcomings, preparing clear demands, communicating with educational institutions, the provincial directorate, and the regional academy, and holding the concerned parties accountable for issues affecting students' academic paths.
Furthermore, the representation of parents is not a symbolic privilege that grants its holder the opportunity to be in the front rows of official occasions. Rather, it is a responsibility that necessitates commitment to families' issues and the ability to defend them with independence and clarity, far from settling for pleasantries or documenting participation in activities and meetings.
Families in Jérada have the right to inquire about the achievements of this federation, the files it has advocated for, the initiatives it has launched, the results it has achieved, and the regularity of its communication with parents. These are legitimate questions that do not target specific individuals, but rather place the performance of the representative body before the responsibility of evaluation and societal accountability.
Naturally, the responsibility for educational reform does not fall solely on the shoulders of the Parents' Federation, as the responsibilities of several institutions and sectors are intertwined. However, this does not absolve it from the duty of advocacy, initiative, and legitimate institutional pressure, nor does it justify its presence turning into a mere symbolic facade whose impact is not felt in the daily affairs of families and students.
Jérada today needs a federation that works more than it appears, advocates more than it flatters, and delivers results more than it publishes photos. It needs a body that makes students' problems its priority, families' concerns its compass, and tangible results the measure of its performance.
Will the Federation of Parents and Guardians in Jérada transform into a genuine force for proposals and advocacy, or will its presence remain linked more to occasions and souvenir photos than to educational files awaiting solutions?
Public education needs not more photos, but rather responsible voices to defend it, follow up on its issues, and insist on finding solutions to its problems. True presence is not being in the picture, but having an impact on reality.
