NAIROBI, Kenya — As concerns grow over student discipline, mental health and school safety in Kenya, one organisation is turning to a group often viewed as the first line of support for young people: parents.
The Family Group Foundation has begun a series of parent engagement forums across the country, bringing together families, educators and community stakeholders in an effort to strengthen support systems for high school students.
The initiative targets more than 970 learners enrolled in the Foundation's Tufuzu na Elimu High School Programme and comes at a time when schools across Kenya are facing renewed scrutiny over student welfare, behaviour and emotional well-being.
Over the course of this month, the Foundation plans to engage more than 600 parents and guardians in 16 counties through structured forums designed to encourage dialogue and shared responsibility in supporting learners.
Speaking during a parents' meeting in Nakuru, Family Group Foundation Executive Director John Waimiri said educational success extends far beyond classroom performance.
"Supporting a child's education goes beyond paying school fees or providing learning materials," Waimiri said. "Young people today face social, emotional and behavioural challenges that require parents, schools and communities to work together. These forums are designed to strengthen that partnership and ensure every learner has the support system they need to succeed."
His remarks reflect a growing recognition among educators and child development experts that academic achievement is closely linked to a student's home environment, emotional health and sense of belonging.
Across Kenya, discussions about student welfare have intensified following a series of incidents involving unrest in schools. Those events have prompted calls for stronger collaboration between parents, teachers and school administrators to identify challenges before they escalate.
The Foundation says its forums are intended to create a space where parents can openly discuss issues affecting learners, including emotional well-being, peer influence, academic performance, personal development and positive behaviour.
Waimiri described parents as indispensable partners in the educational journey of their children.
"Parents remain central to the success of every beneficiary," he said. "By bringing parents, schools and the Foundation together, we are championing a co-parenting approach that positions parents as active partners in the educational journey of their children, building a stronger support system around each learner and creating an environment where students can thrive academically, socially and emotionally."
The programme represents a broader shift in how educational support initiatives are being designed. Rather than focusing solely on financial assistance, organisations are increasingly investing in holistic approaches that recognise the interconnected roles of family, school and community.
For many parents attending the forums, the meetings offer an opportunity not only to receive updates about their children's progress but also to gain insights into the pressures facing today's learners.
As schools, families and policymakers search for ways to improve student outcomes, the Foundation hopes the conversations taking place in county halls and school meeting rooms this month will help create stronger support networks for young people across the country.
The message underpinning the initiative is simple: when parents, teachers and communities work together, students stand a better chance of succeeding both inside and outside the classroom.