What is PTA?
Each Japanese school has a social educational association called PTA, which is an abbreviation of Parent-Teacher Association, consisting of both parents and teachers. PTA is an organization where parents and educators cooperate to learn and share knowledge with each other for the purpose of promoting the positive growth of children. Below is information on how PTA works.
PTA Participation is Voluntary
PTA participation is open to parents. Children are not eligible to become members and are the people supported by its activities. Parents do not have to become a member of PTA, even if their child is enrolled in school. Participation is completely voluntary. Its activities are for the purpose of promoting positive growth of children, and conducted by volunteers. The annual membership fee is 3,000 to 5,000 yen. Note that the membership fee is often collected in cash rather than automatic withdrawal from your bank account, as PTA is an organization independent from school.
What Kind of Activities Does PTA Carry Out? What Kind of Roles are there?
PTA activities vary between schools. There are committees responsible for the different roles.
Here are the main committee names and activity details:
・Class Committee: bring parents in class together, hold events by grade, coordinate with teachers
・Public Relations Committee: public relations activities for school, create a school newspaper or booklet a few times a year
・Parent Education Committee: plan and execute workshops or lectures for parents
・Bellmark Committee: collect tokens from product packaging and exchange for essential supplies
・Board Member Selection Committee: Select PTA board members and/or executive board members for the following fiscal year
Other possible roles:
・Provide help for school events such as sports day and exhibition
・Manage and help school bazaar and/or community festivals
・Conduct community patrol
Who Plays Which Role?
PTA role assignment is done in spring of every year. Pay attention to the handout with activity details, provided around that time. Parents meet at school to discuss and decide who will play each role. It is often the case that PTA has a rule that members must play some kind of role at least once while their child is enrolled in the school, or once a year. Once a member accepts to play a role, they are expected to play the role for a year, cooperating with parents from other classes and/or other grades. All activities are run by volunteers.
What is the Role of the Executive Board Members?
The name of the role varies depending on the school, like PTA board member or PTA executive board member, and their role is to bring the entire school together. The executive board members often include PTA president, PTA vice president, secretary, treasurer, and financial audit. Some may nominate themselves, the others may be nominated by others. PTA board members/executive board members are selected in advance, around the fall and winter before the beginning of the school year.
When and How Do PTA Activities Happen?
The length of the activity varies depending on the school and role. Parents normally meet to discuss activity details at school after school hours, either during the week or Saturday mornings. In recent years, online meetings or information sharing using social network systems have become common.
Do You Have to Join PTA?
It is usual for a PTA member to play some kind of role while their child is enrolled in school. Some parents put off becoming a member, considering their child’s age, as it may be difficult to participate in the meetings and activities with small children. Some parents of 6th grade students avoid role assignment, as there are many events happening for their child before graduation.
Special consideration may be given to parents with foreign roots, as information for PTA activities are often provided in documents. If you have questions, do not hesitate to consult with school staff.
