When parents cannot provide the academic supervision for a child, who becomes the surrogate parent?

Oct 11, 2026 Features / Columnists, News

(Kaieteur News) – I was recently confronted with an attendance problem in one of our educational programmes. Children who desperately needed academic support were failing to attend regularly. Concerned, I decided to take a deeper look. I spoke with teachers, parents, and students, hoping to understand why children who needed help were not taking advantage of the opportunities available to them.

What I discovered reminded me of something I was at risk of forgetting, but which every teacher knows. Many of these parents were struggling simply to put food on the table. Some worked excessively long hours, leaving home early and returning exhausted. Others worked overnight shifts and were asleep during the hours when their children needed supervision. Some were juggling multiple responsibilities, trying to pay bills, provide meals, and keep their households functioning.