Publish at March 04 2026 Updated March 04 2026
Teachers are often blamed for students' lack of guidance and commitment to empowerment. Even if they are responsible for the proper training of learners, isn't the responsibility of parents often overlooked?
Within families, there is often a divergence of opinion between parents who want their children to follow a set path and children who are interested in other paths, especially when they are on the doorstep of higher education. Is empowerment favourable in this type of environment? How can we create a better climate for empowering learners?
When the issue of failure is raised, the spotlight is often on either teachers deemed incompetent to teach, or learners who are not sufficiently engaged and aware of the learning process. And yet, there's another reason why we don't hear as much about it
Both teachers and learners have roles to play, and certain preconditions must be met to guarantee efficient learning. For the pedagogical relationship to be consolidated, motivation on both sides is crucial. As Patrick Gosling says of the pedagogical relationship, "both teacher and student must value the three terms of the relationship: knowledge, teacher and student".
In higher education, the student is, in principle, on the road to autonomy. They move away from the family cocoon, gaining in autonomy as they learn to live on their own. However, they sometimes find it hard to keep up. Does this always have to do with the way the courses are taught? Many people have had dreams since childhood, but sometimes they simply can't live them, not because of the way they're taught at university, but because they feel they're wasting their time, that they're out of touch.
By high school, some parents have already made up their minds about the path their children should follow, even if it doesn't necessarily fit their profiles. To find out more, we interviewed IRETI Armelle Ninon, a senior solar, university and vocational guidance counselor working in Cameroon. She states:
"Generally, the parental view is subject to the functions of family members, the attraction of certain expensive professions. This does not take into account the learner's intellectual capacities, breaking both Maslow's theory of the need for 'self-esteem' and UNESCO's perception of guidance...".
At university level, the young student and his or her parent are sometimes not on the same wavelength, which very often leads to conflicts that result in the student's irresponsibility or lack of commitment. It's certainly true that, with a certain amount of life experience, the parent has a role to play in supporting the child. However, doesn't it hinder the process of training and empowerment of the future adult in their care?
In more radical contexts, the child simply has to carry out the parent's "orders". As a result, he or she broods over inner frustrations likely to slow down his or her commitment.
Is it because the parent followed the path of medicine that the child is predestined for the same orientation? In reality, a learner who is subjected to his family's impositions for a given direction can become a real case of society and a rebellious person. In this vein, it's hard to be motivated, especially when one's passion has nothing to do with the direction imposed on them.
From this point of view, parents known as "helicopters" are overprotective. Imprisoned in an almost sickly desire for ultra-involvement in their offspring's careers, they forget that they won't always be there. It's by letting children make mistakes that they really learn to take responsibility. But they know it: they've been down the same road, a road fraught with obstacles to overcome. To take responsibility, you have to take a certain amount of freedom.
Just as a learner owes his parent respect and obedience, it's no less true that the parent has a duty to listen to his child's aspirations, especially when he's at a certain stage in the learning process. In fact, the parent's responsibility must be shaped in relation to the child's evolution. When they reach a certain age, the emphasis must be on dialogue and active listening.
In this vein, for young adults aged 18 to 27, according to a publication on the ITIC Paris platform, certain questions are more age-appropriate. Instead of saying: "Did you study today?", it's more convenient to ask: "How are you feeling about your studies at the moment? "Is there anything you're particularly stressed or excited about? We can add: "What would make you happy professionally?
With this in mind, if we want to empower a student, it's a good idea to let them have their say. This starts at home, because when they feel listened to, they're capable of great things. This is sometimes the right time to talk to them about the stakes of their choice, and its long-term implications. However, to convince his parents that he understands the path he's chosen, the student will have to formulate his project well, answer questions in an enlightened way, and share verifiable facts. If, on the other hand, he or she continues to navigate by sight, it will be difficult to convince them.
Whatever direction they choose, parents need to consider that it's the young adult who will be in the field. Whether we're parents or students, one central question remains: is it wise to invest in a field for which we have neither vocation nor motivation? Imagine a professional in an operating room or engineering office with no passion or determination for his or her work: lives will be at risk. Is it really laudable to impose an orientation on children?
Illustration: image generated by copilote
Sources
Who is responsible for school failure? Social representations, attributions and the role of the teacher
https:// media.electre-ng.com/extraits/extrait-id/aad72b2fd93a307582786be899fc6dcba576a66dcf94820332ea0c7966489354.pdf
The role of parents in education... being there!
https:// www.iticparis.com/business-school/article/le-role-des-parents-dans-les-etudes-etre-la
The helicopter parent
https:// naitreetgrandir.com/fr/etape/1_3_ans/viefamille/parent-helicoptere/
Orientation Conflicts: Impacts on Children's Motivation
https:// excellart-orientation.fr/article/6aa_conflits-familiaux-sur-lorientation-les-impacts-n%C3%A9gatifs-sur-la-motivation-de-votre-enfant
Abraham Maslow's esteem needs
https:// hrimag.com/Les-besoins-d-estime-selon-Abraham-Maslow
How to convince your parents of your career choice
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDxNJeezhms&t=31s
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