An Entrepreneur, Mrs Romoke Ayinde, popularly known as Kayrom Lee, has called on parents and guardians to immediately commence preparation ahead of their children or wards’ resumption for the new academic session, if they have not begun.
Mrs Ayinde made the call while speaking with Radio Nigeria in Ibadan, on the preparation ahead of the 2025/2026 Session slated to begin in September 2025.
She noted that, it is important for parents to fully equip their children for both mental and physical alertness before their resumption.
The philanthropist noted that the present economic reality in the country tends to make prices of school materials unpredictable towards resumption, urging parents to begin preparation immediately to avoid a last-minute rush.
Mrs Ayinde, who is also the Chief Executive Officer, Kayrom Lee Gym and Fitness Centre, Ibadan and Founder, Imperial Initiative For Human Development, advised parents to prioritize their health and that of their children by visiting professionals for check ups and necessary advice before resumption.
She, however, appealed to the government at all levels to address the current economic challenges in Nigeria, to make life more comfortable for the masses.
Despite the directive of JAMB for Parents to stay away from CBT centers, many parents still throng the Examination venues in support of their children and wards sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME which commenced Nationwide today.
Radio Nigeria correspondents who monitored the exercise in Ibadan Oyo State, report that parents were seen waiting patiently for their children writing the Examination.
Some of the parents who spoke with Radio Nigeria said it was practically impossible to allow their children to go to the CBT Centers alone for the Examination.
Two parents Mrs Olufunke Owofadeju and Mr Tosin Bakare noted that many of the Candidates were below the age of accountability and as such could not be left alone “Why i followed my daughter is that we come long distance. We are from Oyo and i cannot allow her alone to come from Oyo.Infact, in the morning the CBT officials addressed us that we should stay away.”
Similarly, Mrs Oluwadamilola Ayinde said, “I have child and we also come from long distance.That is the reason i followed him here and he cannot go back home without may be , i followed him back.All those people invigilating them did not allow us to stay here at all “.
Speaking on the age of students writing the examination, one if the parents said’ 17 years was better because 15,16, i think the age is still small for them.My child is 17 years
Mr. Tosin Bakare who is a business man said ” The directive of JAMB to parents not to be at the venue of the test, I don’t think they thought it through.There are some children that are not of that age that you can leave them alone. it behoves on parents to guide their children.Where i will agree with JAMB is that some unruly parents tend to take such opportunity to disrupt the examination.They should be handled appropriately”. On the age of students, the opinion of Mr Bakare is that, “The legal age for the independence of a child is 18 ,in some countries 21.So, when a child is still 17, he is not up to.that age of full responsibility.But 17 to.me is still ok”.
Some of the candidates said the examination was hitch free.
Radio Nigeria however observed that the exercise was very orderly.
The 2024 UTME is holding across the Nation in over 700 CBT centers.
“If I tell mummy, she would blame me for everything”.
“Do you know what i have told you, my parents do not know”?
“Ha, I can’t open up to my parents oo they will kill me”?
“I prefer to talk to my friends, my parents have no time”?
“Mummy doesn’t calm down to hear my side and understand me, she flairs up at any little thing”.
These are responses of some children while in a conversation with the author on various issues arising in their lives.
A lot of things which the children told the author were mind-blowing. Some could be classified as shocking revelations. But it is more shocking that they were kept from their parents for various reasons as found in their submissions above.
The question is, must we then sleep in the house with fire on the rooftop? Certainly, this issue cannot be wished away if parents will not be building strangers out of their children.
What then could be the cause(s) of this gap?
Findings show that Fear is a major factor that makes children want to hide things from their parents. Some parents do not give room for an atmosphere that could encourage their children to pour out their minds. They are so tough like granite and very inaccessible that even their arrival at home makes the children cringe.
Sharing their experiences, two siblings who were raised in this kind of atmosphere recalled how they used to push each other to their father whenever they wanted to collect something from him. David and Ruth explained that they were always afraid to approach their father because he was very tough, though the siblings were closer to their mum. It was funny to hear them say, that if they wanted to collect something from their father and he was in his bedroom, they would have to make a sign of the cross and sum up courage before knocking at his door.
Another factor that makes many children recoil is lack of affirmation. Children love to be appreciated and commended. It does not only give them room to express themselves but also builds confidence in them. Unfortunately, only a few children enjoy this from their parents.
Parents also make the mistake of condemning a child when he/she comes home with a poor academic result. Parents are often too quick to scold, especially using hurting words on children with weak academic results.
We must realize that there is a difference between the child and his result.
A child is more than the result he/she brings. This is not encouraging failure but opening the eyes of parents to the fact that in such a situation, the child needs reassurance of love and support so that he can perform better next time. Harshness will also blind parents from discovering what the child’s problem could be academically.
Parents who have this nature will also succeed in driving their children away from unburdening their hearts to them.
When your child shares his/her pain with you, and the next is to use it against her among other friends or just refer to it while chatting with others, ha! that child will see you as a parent who does not respect confidentiality.
Comparing your child with another, which may even be his siblings, is a sure reason that child will be silent. Through such you are building in him a feeling of inferiority, timidity and subtle hostility.
Know this, “Every child is unique in his/ her way”. This uniqueness distinguishes him from others. Not even twins have everything the same.
One thing about children is that they can perceive easily an atmosphere where love abounds and where hatred, and bitterness breed. Children desire sincere demonstration of love and affection beyond words of mouth.
The warmth felt in the womb for years, cuddles received from the mother, backing and all forms of care and affection registered in their subconscious, and they grow to desire more of it.
Therefore, if a child could perceive this from his / her parents, he or she would be free to dialogue with them. Love and affection are what everyone craves and there’s no substitute for it. As the saying goes, “Under someone’s hard shell is that person that wants to be loved and cared for.
Back then as a student in the school, we all looked forward to high scores in our examinations and so does our parents. A child with very good grades was celebrated and almost seen as the toast of his parents. So we all struggled, to get good grades and receive the applause of the school and hugs of our parents.
In fact, we detest ever having red ink on our report cards because we knew what that meant.
Today, this same spirit resides in students and parents and there’s absolutely nothing wrong. But one truth every teacher, parent, and student needs to know is that examinations and grades are very important but they are not everything.
Sad schoolgirl showing her grade on a test at elementary school.
Due to the so much emphasis placed on high scores, a lot of students only read to pass exams. Some do a lot of cramming, ‘read and download’ with very few studying to internalize what had been taught.
Some also resort to examination malpractice just to be able to record good grades, looking for ‘expo’, that is, exam questions at all costs. This kind of attitude informs statements such as “Enito ba mo way e, lo mo we”, meaning, “Whoever knows his way, is the one that’s brilliant”.
There had also been cases where some students were pushed to take up science subjects or courses based on their excellent grades in those subjects whereby such students do not have the capacity or potential for those courses. Some would have been better off in Arts class.
No doubt, grades are good, but they certainly do not define a student. Beyond the grades is a life whose destiny is yet to be revealed.
Benjamin Solomon Carson, popularly called Ben Carson, is an American neurosurgeon and politician, who performed the first successful operation on conjoined twins who were separated at the back of the head(Occipital craniopagus twins).
Dr. Benjamin Carson
Ben was not brilliant in his elementary school days. He was so dull in class that he became an object of mockery among other fellow classmates. His performances were so bad that the school asked his mother to withdraw him as he could not cope. What a sad day for his mother when the letter, asking her to withdraw his son from school was handed over to her.
But years later, this same Ben Carson became the World acclaimed Surgeon, achieving a feat no surgeon ever recorded in history.
Aside the separation of the Siamese twins, he had laurels of other achievements. He was awarded William E Simon Prize for philanthropic leadership in 2005, the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP; the highest honor for outstanding achievement in 2006 while the United States white house awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor in 2008. His achievements are just too numerous to count but way back then in school, he performed poorly.
As a Singaporean head teacher once wrote, ” If your child gets top marks, that’s great! But if he or she doesn’t, please don’t take away their self-confidence and their dignity from them. They are cut out for much bigger things in life. Let them know that no matter what they score, you still love them. One exam or low grade won’t take away their dreams or talents. And please, do not think that doctors and engineers are the only happy people in the world”.The principal wrote.
Parents and teachers ought to realize that, amongst students sitting for exams, there’s a future entrepreneur who would not need history or literature in English, an artist who doesn’t need further maths, a musician whose chemistry work won’t matter and a sports person whose physical fitness is more important than their grade in physics.
Do not think that doctors and engineers are the only important and needed people in the world. The world is so large requiring expertise in various fields of life and more discoveries are emerging every day that will still require specialized skills hidden in young boys and girls who God has chosen to break such grounds.
What is therefore required of parents and teachers is to discover the hidden potential in their children or students, not compare them with others, and help each child develop his potential to the fullest to be the man or woman God intends him to be for God the Creator has deposited in everyone what he or she requires to succeed in life.
A German-born Physicist, Albert Einstein corroborated this in one of his statements, “Everyone is a genius but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid”.
Grades do not measure intelligence. Academic records may show performance levels during exams, but additional factors may alter their applicability to your professional potential.
Ignorantly, most parents in present-day society, handle their children in ways that could make them completely dependent on them such that the children would find it difficult to do things or take decisions on their own when they are capable of doing things for themselves.
Attitude That Makes Children Over Dependent
1. You cook their food for them so that they can read and enjoy it.
2. You help them to wash their clothes and tidy their rooms.
3. You drop them off at school every day by yourself!
4. You lie on their behalf to get them out of trouble.
5. You arrange “expo” to help them pass their exams.
6. You protect them from every danger and difficulty.
7. You prevent them from any form of pain and suffering.
8. You hustle around while they watch films and play games.
9. They can’t go out alone because you’re always scared.
10. You take every decision for them because you’re wiser.
11. You go to their schools to fight for them and prove their rights.
12. You defend them even when they’re wrong and at fault.
13. You cannot stand seeing them starve or go hungry for once.
14. You fight against those who try to correct them.
You probably think you are showing them love but you may be shocked that you are raising an over-dependent generation. The harm is that by the time you’re no longer there and they face real-life challenges, they will become helpless!!! At that stage, they will realize the havoc you have done on them
Parents need to be careful how they raise their children. Remember, parenting is a divine assignment and so, requires God’s wisdom to be able to succeed in the task of raising responsible children.
. WISDOM TIPS
1. Give your children age-appropriate domestic tasks, even if you have a thousand and one domestic servants at home. It is sheer ignorance to think that doing everything for your children is a mark of honour or a way of bequeathing royalty on them.
2. Teach them to be useful and make their impact felt positively wherever they are found starting from the home, in school, places of worship, or other places.
3. Encourage your children to always leave a good impression wherever they go; teach them to be courteous, respectful, friendly, cheerful and helpful.
4. Teach them good toilet manners – they must know how to keep the toilet neat for the next user, and let them know that it is unacceptable to leave the bathroom floor or walls messed with soap, foam, or any form of dirt after bathing.
5. Teach your children the importance of taking good care of their body and their environment; whether they are at home or elsewhere. Remind them that responsible people don’t leave their rooms unkempt or their bed unmade when they get up in the morning; teach them to take their bath very well and smell fine always. you; let them take care of their armpits, teeth, hair and nails.
6. Teach your children to manage their used clothes and other personal belongings very well, whether in their home or elsewhere. It can be irritating to have dirty clothes or shoes, especially those of a visitor litter every corner of the house.
7. Let them pack their toiletries before leaving home. Your children should not depend on their hosts for their basic toiletries such as soap, cream, tooth paste and other essentials.
8. Teach your children to dress well all the time, especially when they are spending time with another family. You probably allow your daughters to dress in bum shots and your sons to walk about with their chest bare in your home, but they may not be safe if they do so in another place. You may not know where a predator would lie in wait for a child.
9. Teach them good table manners; not the ones recited in nursery schools rhymes. Teach them to chew with their mouth covered, not to make noise with the cutlery on their teeth, not to talk with their mouth full, etc.
10. Let your children know that washing only their own plates after eating is not a noble idea.
11. Remind your children that jumping into a conversation when adults are talking is a sign of being ill-mannered. Discourage this both in your home and elsewhere and do not hesitate to scold them for any act of misbehaviour.
12. Help your children not to be social birds online and anti-social bugs offline. They should relate well with people around them, much more than they do with virtual folks they meet online. Please, discourage this idea of young people locking themselves in the room for hours on end without communicating with anyone in the house – all because they are on phone.
13. Empower your children to uphold your family values wherever they are. But before then, make sure that your family values are credible, empowering, socially and morally beneficial.
14. Teach your children to control their appetite and learn to turn down certain offers, even when such offers come from people they know. And at home, it is not compulsory that they must taste everything they see someone eating. This will help them to take their eyes away from certain things when they are in other people’s homes.
15. Always remind your children that they are the window through which the world sees you. If your children’s behavior outside is bad, the general consensus is that they lack home training. And since children are not meant to give themselves home training, it means that you failed as a parent.
16. Finally, make sure your children know God. Salvation is not hereditary; that you are Godly or highly spiritual is not a guarantee that your children are saved. You must consciously and deliberately lead them to God.
Let us try our best to make sure these children represent us well. I am sure you will feel good if you come to your children’s school and people are pointing at you as the parent of the best-behaved child in the school. Won’t you?
Make sure your hosts and the hosts of your children are always impressed to have you or your children around.
May God, The Almighty make our children responsible and successful, Amen!
The Lagos State Police Command says it has extended invitations to the management of Chrisland Schools, parents and the pupils allegedly involved in sexual acts during a school trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, stated this during a telephone interview with Punch.
He said, “All the parties have been invited to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba. The parties include the school authorities, parents and their children.
“Nobody has reported yet, but we are in touch with them and they have all given us a reasonable date and time that they will come. Whatever happens after their invitation will determine the next line of action.”
A source, however, revealed to our correspondent that all the parties would report at the SCIID on Wednesday.
Report says that, the pupils, including a 10-year-old girl, were among the 76 pupils that represented the school during the World School Games in Dubai which held between March 8 and 14, 2022.
During the event, the 10-year-old girl was reportedly involved in sexual acts which were recorded by another pupil. The video clip went viral on Twitter last Monday.
The mother of the girl was heard in another recorded clip accusing the school of cover-up and taking her daughter for a pregnancy test without parental consent.
The state government then shut down all Chrisland Schools in the state, as the police commenced investigation into the matter.
Chrisland Schools, in a statement by a member of its advisory board, Akin Fadeyi, late Monday, denied the rape allegation, adding that, the school did not take the child for any pregnancy test. Reacting to the incident, a senior lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, faulted the Lagos State Government for taking a knee-jack approach to such issues.
“It closed down the school, so what happens to the right to education of other pupils in the school? What happened to their right to learn in school? What happened to the money parents paid?
“So, it is not just about closing down the school; that is reactive; what the government should be doing is to activate the appropriate agencies/departments in the ministry of education, the supervisors to work. So, this is the time for the government to look inward.
“How many supervisors do they have that go round schools on a weekly/monthly basis to ask these children how they are fearing and what is going on in that school? I suspect that they don’t.”
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered a review of police personnel and operational assets deployment to schools and colleges in the country.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Tuesday, said the order was to ensure schools were safe and secure for students across the country.
With the understanding given last week that, “Parenting is a divine assignment”, comes along with it the question; “Do you know your child or that child in your custody?”
Knowing your child is seeing him/her beyond the surface which basically shows resemblance, complexion, height, stature, looks and the likes.
It talks about understanding him/her, the ability to relate well as father/mother to child, sometimes like friends, being able to decipher when things are going wrong or well, sharing his thoughts, having a sound and robust communication on issues pertaining to his life and other areas of life as well.
Do you know the friends or association he/she keeps?
Oh, I can perceive someone asking, “Will I be monitoring him/her all around to know all these?
Well, we are still coming to that.
The story of a little boy readily comes to mind.
During class on a certain day, the class teacher asked the students to write what they would have loved to be if they were to be an object.
Lo and behold, as the teacher was going through their responses, she came across the paper of that boy and on it was the answer, “I would love to be a mobile phone because my mother is closer to her phone than me”.
It was a response that got the teacher thinking.
The rest is history.
The message here is that, beyond the provision of all the basic needs for the children, parents need to realise that these children too have emotions, a lot go on within them, and they have pains, hurts and cheerful moments.
They are built with exceptional skills and unique abilities which they want to exhibit.
They just need someone who can give them a push, a backing, an encouragement, and a check, where necessary.
However, it only takes a parent, guardian, caregiver that would give his or her child/children quality time and attention to know all these.
In addition, a very comfortable, welcoming and very friendly atmosphere must be provided to draw your child closer to you because children are very, very, sensitive to their environment and the truth is, children like adults too tend to unburden their heart to whoever cares to really listen.
If only parents could take time and reflect, allowing the leading of God who committed that child into your hands, they would begin to realize how much havoc is being done by so many things they take for granted.
When you create a servant-boss relationship with your child, you are building a chasm and not a bridge.
When you don’t allow your child to air his/her views, making whatever you say sacrosanct, you’re already creating a gap.
Yes, there are times you must stand your grounds but you must also give room for him/her to express his/her own views.
When everything is “Igbárùn, Ifọ́tí, Igbátí, Àlùbolẹ̀” all the time, i.e. slapping, flogging, a child will become sore afraid of that parent than the normal.
What a child needs is love and an always ready listening ear.
When you chastise, it must also be in love to enable the child to understand that it is for his own good.
If there is any key that opens the door of the heart, it is true love and that is what your child needs too so that you don’t begin to see him as a stranger.
We’ll continue from here next week, God’s willing.
More often than not, many parents, guardians, caregivers, teachers and society do not see the child/children in their custody as a special assignment given to them by God.
To many couples, being blessed with the fruit of the womb is considered a common thing that should happen in marriage.
No doubt children are God’s blessings to families, bearing and having children in one’s custody goes beyond just the usual perception and general belief.
Children as the Bible says are the “Heritage of the Lord”, Psalm 127:3.
So, that child in your care belongs to God, the Almighty.
God has only decided to put him/her in your care to nurture for His glory.
Perhaps, we should pause here and see that, for God to place what belongs to Him in the care of mere mortals is such a great honour and privilege that could only come from God alone.
Therefore, whether you a the biological parent, foster parent, guardian or caregiver, that child in your hands is not just an ordinary thing, an accident or mistake but a divine and sacred assignment committed into your hands by God, the OWNER.
A little girl being scolded by her parent.
It behoves every parent to handle this divine task with all dedication and reverence to the Giver of that duty.
Just as God called Adam to keep the Garden of Eden, you are expected to nurture, tenderly feed, clothe, train and guide these children in accordance with the leading of the Holy Spirit to enable them to fulfil the purpose for which He has brought them to the world and not for selfish reasons.
Unfortunately, some parents are ignorant of this truth and claim so much ownership of these children that they go to the extent of imposing on them, course of study, career, choice of partner, where to live, among other things.
Unknown to such parents, they would only succeed in building a child for their pleasure and not God’s.
By so doing, the child would have been led away from His original purpose while fulfilling destiny may become a mirage.
This is one of the reasons many young people have lost focus in life while there is a lack of fulfilment which may result in so much struggle and frustration.
See what Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
This establishes the fact that God has full control of the life of every child and determines their destiny.
No parent would ever be happy seeing his/her child maltreated, abused or subjected to any form of violent treatment.
Whoever mishandles any child grieves the heart of God.
For effective and successful parenting, realize this truth that no parent can achieve this on his own strength or wisdom.
You need to draw from the One who gave you that precious gift.
Join me next week for more.
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Parents and guardians have been advised to effectively monitor their wards in order to compliment teachers’ efforts towards instilling education and moral values in them. The executive chairman, Ibadan North West, Alhaji Rahman Adepoju gave the advice during the final stage of the 2022 Schools Challenge quiz competition for public primary schools at the local government secretariat, Onireke, Ibadan. Alhaji Adepoju, who pointed out that the programme which was a follow up to the distribution of exercise books and compendium to primary school pupils last year, said the event was to prepare the primary school pupils for future challenges.
Alhaji Adepoju explained that the quiz competition would be extended to include private primary schools across the local government in line with the educational policy of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, calling on teachers to justify good gestures to the education sector in the state. In a motivational speech, an actress and cultural ambassador, Mrs Toyin Adegbola advised pupils to keep good company, focus on their studies and be determined to become great in life, while calling on parents to speak Yoruba language to their children as a way of promoting culture. In another presentation, a retired teacher, Mrs Alice Arowodasa encouraged parents not to relent in their efforts to ensure good children upbringing and commended Alhaji Adepoju’s initiative to showcase competitive spirit in students for excellence. Four primary school pupils, Misses Confidence Festus of Army Children School II came first, Ebube Joseph of the Army Children School III came second, Ayomide Akinferede of the United Native of Africa Primary School came third and Joy David of the Saviour Apostolic School I came fourth among the forty-one public primary schools which participated in the quiz competition. Highlights of the event were the presentation of certificates and educational instruction materials to the winners and participating school pupils.
After the Christmas and New Year celebrations that attracted numerous spending by families, friends and loved ones, the preparation of parents towards the resumption of their children do often appear challenging in January, the first month of the Year. This is because responsibilities ahead are often not put into consideration during the festivities. Hence, people experience financial constraints at the beginning of the year. Correspondent, Rotimi Famakin, who looked at the preparedness of parents towards resumption in Ibadan, Oyo state capital reported that teachers and school administrators were putting finishing touches to their arrangements to welcome students back to school.
However, some parents expressed concern over the payment of their children school fees. One of the parents, Mr Dawud Afolabi appealed to the government not to hike the pump price of petrol as being proposed so as not to make living more stressful to the people. “There is no preparation other than to pray to God to provide for us. Preparation goes beyond monetary, material preparation also counts. We appealed to the government not to hike the fuel pump price as being proposed” Mr Dawud noted that there was a paucity of funds everywhere. While on preparation assessment visits to some schools in Ibadan, Radio Nigeria observed that teachers were on the ground getting their lesson notes and diaries ready while other non-teaching staff were sighted cleaning the schools’ surroundings.
At Oba Akinbiyi High school 2, Mokola, the principal, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ayodele said a staff meeting had already been arranged for today ahead of resumption. “that is why I’m in school today. We had a meeting with our Zonal head yesterday. We are having a meeting with our teachers today”
The situation was not different at the Shepherd Success Academy, Agbowo, Ibadan where the staff were cleaning the school premises and classrooms to make it conducive for the students.
Teachers cleaning school premises ahead of resumption.
In an interview, the Head Mistress of the school, Mrs Bolanle James said, parents should ensure that their childrens’ fees were paid early enough to forestall their wards from being sent away from school. “We appealed to parents to pay their children’s school fees on time before we lay them off.” Mrs James appealed to parents to prepare adequately for their children’s early arrival to school for the timely commencement of classwork.
Public health promoters and educators in the University of Ibadan have stressed the need for parents to ensure adequate provision of balanced diet for their children to prevent bacteria conjunctivitis leading to visual impairment.
Speaking on behalf of the public health promotion and education students during a public health intervention held at the Cathedral of Saint David, Kudeti, Ibadan, the team leader, Mr Augustine Adugbe said predicament relating to vision in children aside being hereditory could be induced by malnutrition.
Mr Adugbe who said the choice of Kudeti for the medical intervention followed prevalence of treatable diseases as well as poverty level of residents in the area.
Other experts including an optalmologists, Patrick Okafor and medical laboratory scientist, Elizabeth Bolarinwa said patients with cases of bacteria conjuctivis, aggravated high blood pressure and malaria were discovered and administered drugs to prevent worsen health crises.
In an interview with Radio Nigeria, the Sub dean, Cathedral of Saint David, Kudeti, Venerable Engineer Oluseye Ogunrinde said most communities in oyo state as well as many residents lacked the resources for their medical upkeep.
Venerable Ogunrinde challenged corporate organizations and institutions to incorporate social responsibility policy into their annual programme and implement them in communities with visible social and economic challenges.
Often times, Peer Influence has harmful effects on youths, as the saying, bad company corrupts good manners.
In this report , Ovie Okome looks at the positive angle to peer influence.
It is natural for parents to be concerned about the friends their children keep, to avoid consequences attached to such influence.
But keeping right company equally has its potential to help youths, as some of them shared how peer influence had had positive impact on them.
In a chat, some parents indicated that, they see peer influence as a reality every parent would have accepted, pointing out that positive peer influence is helpful to young people.
A sociologist, Mrs.Temitope Abosede who descried peer influence was an inalienable social factor, said it was imperative for teenagers to identify the type of company they need to keep.
Mrs Abosede added that teenagers should understand that good company was the only option to follow, in other to have better future.
Education is a legacy which every good parent should give to
their children.
Indeed, that time of the year is here again, a period where
educational institutions resume for a new academic session to develop minds in
the quest for knowledge.
The three weeks holiday is over, stakeholders including
government, parents, guardians, teachers, caregivers and pupils have strategize
for the next session.
The fact remains that while some children are ready for a
new term of academic exercise, some are not.
Now that academic work have commenced, students should
realize that for them to record success this session, they need to focus more on
their studies and always remember that they are in school for a reason.
Students should know that their teachers are there to help
them excel and they should not see their teachers as enemies rather they should
tap from their wealth of knowledge.
The adoption of modern methods of teaching should be
embraced as this will improve the quality of teaching and learning.
There is urgent need for school management to empower the Guidance
and Counselling Unit in schools to guide students in their chosen career, give
necessary advice and impact knowledge on them.
The role of government in providing qualitative education
cannot be underestimated, political office holders should therefore be alive to
their electioneering campaigns by ensuring that every Nigerian has access to
good education.
Furthermore, government at all levels should bridge the quality
gap between public and private schools by providing basic infrastructure that would
aid proper teaching and encourage learning.
The school environment should be conducive for learning as
this would aid assimilation.
Of paramount importance is the prompt payment of teachers’
salaries and other fringe benefits as this will enhance teaching and aid better
delivery from them.
Parents should also monitor the kind of friends their
children keep as “evil company corrupt
good manners”.
“Spare the rod and
spoil the child” goes an adage, parents should correct their children and
assist them when they need help.
International organizations, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies should see provision of good education as a collective responsibility and not solely the responsibility of the government, hence the need for everyone to work together for a successful session.
