Technology is changing the way public schools communicate with parents, said yesterday.

Parents and Parent Teacher Associations also came in for high praise from the Minister as he spoke on the floor of the House of Assembly yesterday morning.

?I have no doubt members will agree that students are more likely to be successful in school when their parents are actively involved with their school,? he said.

To that end schools in the public school system employs a variety of ways to draw parents in ? including email, the Internet, newsletters/news articles about students, and even the old-fashioned methods of the telephone and postcards. The Ministry and the schools also support at least three different kinds of parenting classes at present, Mr. Lister said.

Several schools run evening parenting classes with topics tailored to the needs of parents, with some focusing on how to assist children with homework and how to better manage behaviour or to work with a child who has a special need. Other classes and information are also available.

Mr. Lister voiced the Ministry?s appreciation of parents who put in much time and effort on behalf of their children, even giving examples of fathers who gave up their lunch hours to construct playgrounds. ?The relationship between schools and parents is not just a one-way street,? he said.