NASCEE Tuesdays in the Trenches: Parental and Caregiver Involvement in Education

As part of NASCEE’s Tuesdays in the Trenches (TTT) series, a three-part conversation explored Parental and Caregiver Involvement in Education, highlighting the important role that families, schools, communities and organisations play in creating supportive learning environments and improving educational outcomes. The sessions featured the recently published book, Parental and Caregiver Involvement in South African Education, developed by JET Education Services (JET) in collaboration with Reos Partners, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and a range of contributors. The publication combines research, evidence and practical insights to demonstrate how parents, caregivers, schools, communities, civil society organisations and government can work together to improve children's learning and well-being.

The first episode, held on 21 July 2026, highlighted a powerful message: meaningful parental and caregiver involvement is one of the strongest drivers of learner success. Nelo Spies, Junior Achievement South Africa, Warren Farrer, DO MORE FOUNDATION, and Kimon Phitidis, PEP Foundation, shared practical insights, leadership experiences and collaborative approaches to strengthening partnerships with families and communities.

The second episode, held on 28 July 2026, continued the conversation with Dr Marc Aguirre, HOPE worldwide South Africa; Gloria Nkosi, HOPE worldwide South Africa; and Ximena Gonzalez, Seriti Institute. The discussion explored practical approaches, evidence-based strategies and real-world experiences that are helping to strengthen family and community engagement in education across South Africa.

The third and final episode, held on 4 August 2026, unpacked emerging findings from the Parent and Caregiver Support Survey, developed through a collaboration between Hold My Hand, SAPPIN and sector partners. The discussion explored what the survey reveals about the current support landscape, the challenges organisations face in working with parents and caregivers, and opportunities for stronger collaboration, evidence-based practice and more effective monitoring and evaluation.

Across the three episodes, the series provided a valuable platform for sharing practical insights, evidence and real-world experiences, while reinforcing the importance of meaningful parental and caregiver engagement in improving learner outcomes across South Africa.