posted on 16/5/2012

 MINUTES OF THE P. T. A. FORUM HELD WITH PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF J S S 2, J S S 3 AND S S 2 STUDENTS ON 12TH MAY, 2012.

To God be the glory. The meeting started at exactly 9:00 am as scheduled. Parents/Guardians appreciably honoured the invitation and their presence added colour to the meeting while their contributions indicated maturity, knowledge and understanding.

WELCOME SPEECH

First, the principal’s maiden speech and welcome address prepared the minds of parents/guardians and gave them insight into the new federal government curriculum which contains new secondary school subjects divided into the following departments and number of subjects:

(i)         Science and Mathematics          7 subjects

(ii)        Business Studies                       5 subjects

(iii)       Humanities                                12 subjects

(iv)       Technology                               10 subjects

(v)        Trade Subjects                         35 subjects

A copy of the document containing a comprehensive list of the departments and their subjects was given to each parent who attended the meeting.

            Continuing, she expressed satisfaction with parents/guardians’ response to the meeting.

MATTERS OF THE DAY

            The Proprietor in his speech appreciated parents/guardians for their response and took the opportunity to speak exhaustively on the new curriculum which has about 35 subjects alien to secondary school scheme of work. He mentioned just a few of them, for instance;

i.                     Auto body repair and spray painting

ii.                    Auto electrical work

iii.                  Auto mechanical work

iv.                 Radio/TV and electrical work

v.                   Upholstery

vi.                 Data processing

vii.                G S M maintenance

viii.              Welding and fabrication

ix.                 Plumbing and pipe fitting, etc

The Proprietor pointed out that in order to meet the challenges of the new dispensation, the J S S 2 and S S 2

Students must start a compulsory Saturday lesson and Summer Holiday programmes. During this period, the new subjects would be introduced and taught intensively and exhaustively.  According to him, arrangements had been concluded with qualified professionals and artisans in the various trades. These tested and proven skilled personnel would form the teaching crew to handle the students both in the theoretical and practical aspects of the trades but with more emphasis on practical teaching, he went on. He, therefore, solicited the maximum support of the parents and guardians in the drive to actualize this new measure. The Proprietor intermittently read and explained the various divisions of the curriculum pointing out that new textbooks and some tools for the theory and practicals would be recommended, reminding them that everything is from the federal government education ministry.

 COMPULSORY SUMMER COACHING FOR J S S 2 AND S S 2

            The Proprietor reiterated the relevance of summer coaching which he mention in passing above emphasizing the fact that it will go a long way in enhancing the understanding of the new curriculum which before now had been unknown in our educational system. He added that in order to catch up with the numerous demands of this new development, ‘Lagooz has decided not to leave anything to chance or assume that all will be well whenever we deem it fit to start’, he said. Continuing, he made it abundantly clear that the compulsory summer coaching will be judiciously used to impact such knowledge necessary to be in tune with this new academic dispensation. 

SATURDAY LESSON-COST AND RELEVANCE (ALL CLASSES)

          The importance of Saturday lesson cannot be over-emphasized going by the information above. However, the Proprietor saw the relevance of the extension of the Saturday lesson to all the secondary school classes from JSS1 to SS2. He reasoned that since the new federal curriculum on education includes all the secondary school classes, it would be better to bail the water now that it is ankle deep because, ‘A stitch in time saves nine’. Again, the forthcoming examination will test students on some of the new five departmental subjects. So, since the Saturday lesson will be relevant to this examination, then attendance must be compulsory from JSS1 to SS2. The cost of the Saturday lesson remains N2, 000 per term and period but by next term, we shall inform you of the new changes in the price.

PRE-S S 1 CLASS

Then, he explained why it would be important for the present J S S 3 students to attend Pre-S S 1 classes and Saturday lesson, saying that the introduction of the new curriculum is a major reason. Besides, he informed parents that since they made full payment of school fees for the third term, it would be important for the students to

start their Pre-S S 1 lessons now so as to complete the term and be acquainted with the demands of a senior secondary school education, especially the various subjects divisions characteristic of the new level they are launching into, come next session. The new measure, according to him, would help them dispel every false impression or fear they had associated with the new academic level. Therefore, he went on, all the present J S S 3 students should return to school on Friday 18th May, 2012 and resume full Pre-S S 1 academic work. It is for their own good, he concluded. For now, the recommended books are:

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

1.                  Goodbye To Failure in English S S 1- By ken Mebele et’ al

2.                  Intensive English for Senior Secondary Schools S S 1 – By Oluikpe et’al

MATHEMATICS

1.         Man Mathematics

2.         New General Mathematics- S S 1

CIVIC EDUCATION

Fundamentals of Civic Education for Senior Secondary Schools- By Sola Akinyemi.

These books are recommended for the introductory stage while more will be communicated to you later. Those to be communicated to you in due course are the textbooks on:

1.                  Computer Education

2.                  The 35 Trades.

As soon as the federal government makes available the books for these courses, parents will be contacted. Parents should, therefore, provide the books listed above latest Thursday 17th May, 2012

DISCOURAGING G C E IN S S 2

The Proprietor pointed out to parents and guardians of students in S S 2 that registering their children/wards for G C E examinations would amount to academic suicide because the students apart from being introduced to the perennial academic virus known as examination malpractices in their various loose examination centres, they would also miss more than 90% of the lectures that will make them excel in S S C E examinations. According to him, the candidates in G C E centres are far from being effectively controlled because some of them have been dangerously exposed to the vices of the society that they would stop at nothing to ensure their success. Consequently, while engaging in all forms of malpractices, S S 2 students who witness such anomaly in their centres come back to school infested with wrong notions on how to have an unmerited examination success so much so that it affects their approach to studies which now becomes lackadaisical. Apart from this, within the three weeks period of the examinations, they miss a greater proportion of the teaching of the topics in WAEC syllabus for S S C E. The result – failure. It is therefore not wise to register S S 2 students for G C E. This is our advice. However, the Proprietor said that if a parent considered it necessary not to accept our advice, he could do as he deems fit but that our stand is a capital NO to G C E registration for S S 2 students.

PARENTS/GUARDIANS’ RESPONSES

All the parents and guardians who attended the P. T. A. forum spoke favourably on the new development and appreciated the management of Lagooz Schools for carrying them along and commended them for their child-caring ability. Mr. Olawole, Mrs. Okebalama, Mrs. Ogunniyi, and many others expressed their support to the management’s intended measures towards the new curriculum. Alhaji Mustapha spoke copiously on the new curriculum citing examples with countries in Europe and even West African sub-region and stating unequivocally that the new measure would metamorphose into craftsmanship and advancement in technology which he said helped China of today. He expressed his support for the plans Lagooz has in order to train the students. Mrs. Adejumo in her support encouraged the management to go ahead with their plan and give the students adequate orientation. Alhaji Idris and Alhaji Mekanka supported the new plans.

            Thereafter, Mrs. Adewunmi, Mrs. Agu and Mrs. Godwin expressed their satisfaction with both the Saturday lesson and the Pre-S S 1 classes. In fact, there was no dissension instead parents and guardians unanimously expressed their unalloyed support for the management and staff of the school in their bid to ensure a successful future for the children.

GENERAL

            A parent wanted to know whether students from other schools could be allowed to attend the new programmes taking place during Saturday lesson. The Proprietor replied that in order to maintain the standard of the school, it would not involve students from other schools so that teachers would have sufficient time for the students.

            On the issue of projects and assignments, the Proprietor replied that parents and guardians should assist the school by encouraging their children to do their projects and assignments. Students who fail to do their projects or assignments will be sent home or out of classes until the project or assignment is completely done.

            When the Proprietor was asked how he would get the personnel for the trades since the government had not employed staff for them in the new curriculum, he replied that Lagooz had discussed with some resource personnel having some level of education and some artisans assuring the parents and guardians that between then and next week he would have concluded the plan. He went on to say that, for a start, a child might not choose more than one trade and this would start in the Saturday lesson.

            The Proprietor pleaded with parents and guardians not to fail to remind Lagooz whenever they discovered lapses. He enjoined them to be Lagooz advisers, complain when necessary and, of course, criticize only constructively. He appreciated them and promised he would get back to them later on the issue of parenting. Some copies of the new books for the curriculum are attached herewith.

LAGOOZ SCHOOL OF PARENTING

            Parenting as a natural responsibility involves caring for children by way of providing them with the following:

1.                  Food

2.                  Clothing

3.                  Shelter

4.                  Education

5.                  Protection

6.                  Advice

If parents provide these things for their children, they will be creating a better world and a very bright future for them. Perfect parenting is that which takes care of the child and makes available all that he or she needs to make life meaningful. Another important aspect of parenting is the provision of formal education in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions to equip him or her with the requisite demands of the labour market and give him the opportunity to fit properly into the challenging global community. Also, good parenting includes giving your child direction and counseling him or her on the gains of uprightness in life because what you teach your child matters. Remember “The child is the father of the man”.

            Therefore, you should not rest on your oars in your innate desire to give your child a concrete parenting that will transform him or her for good.

            Lagooz teachers regard the students as their children and give them academic and moral parenting. What about you? In Lagooz School of Parenting, the students will be taught how to convert intangible things to something beneficial to the society. They will also be taught how to use current technological development language and how to decode a coded language of this generation. It will be child-oriented and parents will be introduced to how not to rear or bring up a child through and trial and error. To this effect, resource men and women between 50 to 60 years old will be on hand to instruct parents and even the students. These experienced men and women will include counselors, retired principals of schools and religious leaders. Still on the issue of parenting, there will be courses on:

1.                  Your child and the media

2.                  Influence of internet on teenagers

3.                  More about GSM phones and children

4.                  Sexuality: The untold story

5.                  Peer group influence

6.                  Socialization

7.                  Acculturation

8.                  Bastardized societal values: the craving for material things

9.                  Preparing the child for heaven

This is an innovation in secondary education but since in Lagooz we cherish honesty, obedience, hardwork and uprightness, it has become increasingly necessary for us to explore other areas of training the children you have left in our care to be citizens we shall be proud of in future. We shall inform you as soon as this programme takes off believing that you surely play your own roles perfectly and appear in person whenever we need you.  

INTERPRETATION

It is important to state here that all the discussions during the P. T. A. forum were interpreted in Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa as follows:

            1.         Yoruba by the Proprietor, Otunba A. F. Otubela

            2.         Igbo by the Vice Principal Academics, Mr. G. N. Nwaobianyi

            3.         Hausa by the Vice Principal Administration, Mrs. M. D. Anyanta

CLOSING

            The closing prayer said by the principal, Mrs. Otubela, and the meeting came to end at this point.

For more details, comments and suggestions, visit www.lagooz.com

ATTENDANCE  OF PTA MEETING OF JS2 AND SS2 STUDENTS

HELD ON 12th May, 2012