Failing families

A growing disconnect between students and parents who are increasingly taking a more hands-off approach has triggered alarm among analysts who warn of long-term repercussions in the just-released 2026 Global School-Based Student Health Survey.

The data shows that “protective family factors have weakened over time” with only three in 10 students reporting that their parents understood their problems and just four out of 10 saying their parents know what they do in their free time, provide guidance or spend quality time with them.

The survey results were officially released Wednesday morning by Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton in collaboration with representatives of the National Council and Drug Abuse. It showed that of the 3,058 students between grades seven to 12 who were surveyed, only 25.9 per cent felt their parents understood their issues, 39.2 per cent said their parents knew what they were doing in their free time, 42.7 per cent got guidance or advice from their parents while 40.7 per cent said their parents spent quality time with them.