The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) says home assignments given to children from schools provide parents the opportunity to assess the quality of academic activities being given at school.
The NUT’s Secretary-General Dr Mike Ike-Ene,  made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja last Tuesday.
According to Ike-Ene, home assignments are given to make parents to ask questions and look at the academic activities of their wards.
“It might beat your imagination to know that there are parents who don’t care or bother about what their children do in school and so their children are careless about their homework.
“But when a child knows that his/her parents always check his books and make some observations the child will be anxious to do the homework and other school activities,’’ he explained.
Ike-Ene also said, “teachers give homework so as to check how playful the child is and to make parents participate in their children’s training through helping out in the assignment.
“When parents participate in their children’s homework, it makes them to be well informed on the quality of education their children are exposed to.
“It equally gives them the courage to spend more so as to ensure that the children become better persons in the society.’’
He further noted that the responsibility of assisting or training a child was not an individual affair, saying anyone who is knowledgeable can help the child with the homework.
He, however, encouraged parents to establish good relationship with their children’s teachers, saying such exercises would help the parents to monitor the children’s performance in school.
“It is important for parents to be interested in their children homework; you don’t leave it for the child alone.
“The parents also must learn how to relate with the teachers; you can as well call the teacher on phone and ask of your child school matters,’’ Ike-Ene said.
Also, Mrs Titilayo Adefemi, a teacher, said it was the duty of the parents to supervise their children to do their home worký.
Adefemi said that ýthis was important because by supervising them they could track the development of their children in school.
“It is every parent’s responsibility to supervise their children’s homework.
“If you do not supervise them how can you track their development in school; how can you be abreast with what they are being taught and how they are progressing?
“Yes, we agree some children are brilliant, but you must at least check their homework after they have done it.’’
She added that parents supervising their children’s homework will enhance the existing bond between parents and their children.
According to her, this homework will help you spend more time with your children, talk with them and relate more with them.
Mrs Eguolor Abraham, a mother of three, said that these days many parents were too busy to assist their children in school assignments.
“Instead, they abandon it to maids and other family members in the home.