Opinion
In today’s world, many parents leave their children in the care of caregivers because they work in different towns or cities. Although this arrangement h
2026-08-192026-08-19By Correspondent
In today’s world, many parents leave their children in the care of caregivers because they work in different towns or cities.
Although this arrangement helps families earn a living, it has created new challenges for children, parents, and teachers. Parents are a child’s first teachers. They provide love, guidance, discipline and emotional support. When parents spend long periods away from home, children may miss these important aspects of parenting. While caregivers can provide excellent physical care by ensuring that children are fed, clean and safe, they cannot always replace the emotional bond, values and lifelong guidance that parents provide.
In the past, parents, especially mothers, often stayed at home to raise their children, while fathers were often the primary breadwinners. During those days, children were generally expected to be disciplined and respectful towards their parents, elders, and authorities. They also tended to develop close relationships with their parents because they spent more time together. However, today, some children who spend most of their time with caregivers may experience emotional loneliness, behavioural problems, or a lack of discipline. They may struggle with confidence, respect for authority, or social skills because they have fewer opportunities to interact closely with their parents.
As they grow older, some may also find it difficult to communicate openly with their parents, which can weaken family relationships.
This situation often increases teachers’ responsibilities. Today’s teachers are expected to do much more than teach academic subjects. They are increasingly called upon to counsel learners, teach values and good behaviour, comfort children during emotional difficulties, resolve conflicts, and communicate regularly with caregivers and parents. In many cases, teachers become trusted adult figures who provide the encouragement, discipline, and emotional support learners lack at home.
However, expecting teachers to fulfil both parental and educational roles places significant pressure on them. Large class sizes, administrative duties and academic expectations already demand much of their time and energy. When teachers must also address learners’ emotional and behavioural needs, it becomes more difficult to focus on effective teaching and learning.
This does not mean that parents who work away from home do not care about their children. Many make this sacrifice to provide better education, healthcare, and living conditions for their families. The challenge is finding ways to remain actively involved in their children’s lives despite the distance.
Regular communication through phone or video calls, frequent visits, participation in school activities whenever possible and maintaining close contact with teachers can help strengthen the parent-child relationship.
As classroom teachers, we have witnessed the impact of prolonged parental absence on learners’ academic performance. In one of our classes of 40 learners, 23 live with caregivers or other caregivers, while five live alone without direct parental supervision. Although every child’s situation is unique, we have observed that many of these learners struggle to complete homework, submit schoolwork on time and prepare adequately for tests and examinations. On some occasions, some miss examinations. Consequently, a significant number perform poorly and fail at the end of the term. These observations suggest that consistent parental involvement remains an important factor in supporting children’s learning, even when families rely on caregivers because of work commitments.
In light of this argument, the authors recommend that parents who work away from home maintain regular communication with their children through phone or video calls, discussing not only their well-being but also their schoolwork and behaviour.
Furthermore, parents should visit their children as often as possible and attend parent-teacher meetings whenever they can. Moreover, parents should set clear expectations regarding homework, discipline, and daily routines, even when they live away from their children. Additionally, they should work closely with caregivers to ensure that they understand and follow the parents’ expectations regarding the child’s education and behaviour.
Lastly, parents should show genuine interest in their children’s academic progress by checking their report cards and homework and communicating regularly with their teachers.
In conclusion, children need more than food, clothing, and shelter. They also need the love, guidance, encouragement and presence of their parents. While caregivers provide valuable support to working families, they cannot fully replace the emotional connection and lifelong influence of parents.
Likewise, teachers are committed to nurturing learners, but they cannot be expected to carry the responsibilities of both educators and
