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Tag: parents

  • Bayelsa govt to arrest parents, guardians of school dropouts

    The Bayelsa State government is preparing a law to enable it arrest and prosecute parents and guardians of children and wards who are either drop-outs or not schooling.

    Education Commissioner Markson Fefegha spoke yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, when he got an award from the Centre for Save and Serve Humanity Organisation (CSSHO).

    He said the government had concluded arrangement to send an executive “Compulsory Education Bill” to the House of Assembly for passage to begin the process.

    Fefegha said the bill would complement the present administration’s investments in the Education sector valued at N80 billion.

    According to him, when passed into law, the bill will mandate parents and guardians to send their children and wards to school and ensure children between ages 6 and 18 are not found on streets during school hours.

    The commissioner noted that with the existing Education Trust Fund policy and loan scheme in the state, parents had no excuses not to send their children to school.

    He said the bill was also designed to prohibit street hawking by children of school age.

    Fefegha said Dickson was committed to making education compulsory and affordable for Bayelsa residents.

  • Expert tasks parents to be conscious of children’s hygiene

    A medical expert, Dr Yinka David of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), has advised parents to be conscious of their children’s hygiene and dispose dirty water in their surroundings.

    David, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ilorin, further urged them to be watchful of the kind of food they fed their children with.

    He said that some parents, due to environmental conditions, especially in rural areas, gave contaminated water and food to their children without considering the health implications.

    According to him, contaminated waters may lead to illnesses such as nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, which can also lead to death, if not properly managed.

    “Parents should care more about the hygiene of their children. Do not just feed them with anything available, to survive.

    “There is an extent that children’s internal system can store infected foods and water, as it may cause severe health challenges.

    “Parents must take caution and avoid being careless about their children’s health,” David said.

    The medical practitioner also called on parents to ensure proper treatment of water to be used for their children, by applying disinfectants.

    David advised government at all levels, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, to organise enlightenment seminar for parents, on the need for a healthy and clean water for their children’s consumption.

  • CP advises parents on kidnapping

    Kano state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Rabiu Yusuf yesterday in Kano urged parents in the state to always be mindful of the movement of their children so as to prevent them from falling victim of kidnapping and abduction.

    Mr. Yusuf who spoke during the quarterly meeting with Eminent Personalities Forum (EPF), agreed that abduction of children has become a major security challenge in the state in recent times.

    He, however, noted that adequate cooperation from members of the community had helped the police in controlling the menace of kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed robbery in the state.

    “We have the challenges of stealing of children and we have advised the parents to always ensure that they care of their wards, they take of the minors, let them not allow them to roam about most especially during odd hours,” he noted.

    He further stated that, “really we have recorded tremendous successes, we have been able to at least to some extent reduce the menace of kidnapping. The problem of cattle rustling has been solved.

    “Armed robbery cases have reduced to the minimum level. So to some extent really we have recorded a  lot successes within the period under review.”

    Commenting on the large turnout of EPF members to the meeting, Mr. Yusuf said it was a clear testimony that the police and the people are working in synergy to ensure a crime-free society.

  • Parents protest Queen’s College pupils’ death

    Parents protest Queen’s College pupils’ death

    Parents are bitter about how their children are being treated at Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, where two pupils have died from drinking unclean water.

    Vivian Osuinyi died of diarrhea on February 14; Itula Bithna died of typhoid on February 22.

    The girls, who were junior secondary pupils, died at home after falling ill in school

    The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Chairman, Mr John Ofordike, said he was called to the school three months ago to attend to a medical issue.

    “As far as I am concerned I cannot tell you the cause of their death, but, was told that it is typhoid fever and it was caused by bad water. Three months ago, there was an incident in the college. Students were vomiting and purging and I was called upon.  When I got there I saw children at the sick bay receiving treatments and while some were still waiting to be treated.  We tried to examine the issue but didn’t know where the fault was.  So in the end, I donated 3,000 bags of pure water which lasted for five days and during that period the number of children vomiting and purging reduced.

    “Before they vacated, I advised parents to take their children for medical check-up.  So many did and I got so many complaints – of fever, high level of typhoid in their system. It is disheartening that four months into my election as the chairman, there have been medical issues and even deaths,” he said.

    Ofordike noted that the pupils were not benefiting from the Queen’s Delight table water which is produced in the school by a private firm.

    The firm started operation about two years ago, with an agreement to provide potable water for domestic use in the school.  However, Ofordike said the water was being sold to outsiders without consideration for the pupils.

    Henceforth, he said, the firm would provide the water for use in the dormitories, kitchen, clinic and dining areas.

    A parent, who simply called himself Mr Zubby, blamed the pupils’ death on negligence.

    He said: “It is a result of negligence. That is why we are here. Nobody is happy. I have two children here and I would not want anything to go wrong with them. After their inter-house sports, I took my daughters’ home.  That night one of them fell really sick. When we conducted tests on them, they were both positive with high level of typhoid. So we started advising parents to do same, so many results from the parents were positive too. In fact one of us said her daughter’s was critical.

    “I think there should be transparency; you do not expect any parent to start raising issue where there is none. Most times these children come back home and complain of one thing or the other and where the management is not able to say let us sit down and proffer solution it becomes a big issue.”

    Another parent, Mr Timothy Babafemi, said: “We are not happy at all with the issue. There were rusted pipes that resulted in the contamination of the water. Though my daughter suffered from malaria as a result of bad windows, mosquitoes, but with the help of the PTA and other agencies, the deteriorated facilities in the school are being repaired”.

  • Parents, students learn benefits of Canadian Foundation Programme

    Canada may be the next top destination for Nigerian students seeking to study abroad thanks to the Canadian Foundation Programme (CFP), which provides opportunities for Nigerians to spend a year in Nigeria then three years in colleges and universities in Canada.

    The CFP was launched at the Eko Hotel and Suites by representatives of the Canadian government/schools, and Westerfield College, Yaba, penultimate week.

    Mr Mike Dosunmu, Managing Director, Westerfield College, a post-secondary education college which is running the programme in Nigeria for the Canadian government, said parents and students have a lot to benefit from the initiative – the biggest of which was saving cost for quality education.

    For instance, Dosunmu said parents could save as much as 50,000 Canadian Dollars it would have cost for their wards to spend the first year in Canada where the education structure requires students to pass through two years of college before crossing over to the university for another two years to earn a degree.

    Going through CFP, he said the students spend one year in Nigeria, continue the second year in Canada, and then spend another two years in a university for their degree.

    “This programme will save parents about 50,000 CAD.  I thank the government of Canada/British Columbia and the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria for pulling all the stops to ensure that this is successful,” he said.

    Dosunmu also said by spending one year post-secondary education in the country, the children get more time to mature before living their homes.

    “We have many students, some 14/15 year olds that are being pushed away thousands of miles from home.  This programme has a way of helping the children mature after their secondary education,” he said.

    Speaking about Canadian lifestyle, Mr Marc Andre-Savage, First Secretary, Canadian Deputy High Commission, Lagos, said his country offers one of the best indices terms of quality of life as well as education.

    He said the country had a low crime rate and had friendly people.

    In terms of education quality, Andre-Savage said education in his country was so developed that quality was the norm irrespective of school.

    “In the United States you may have some universities at the top and some lower down.  But in Canada, we have good schools across board.  It doesn’t matter which school you attend.  You are assured of top quality education,” he said.

    Mr Justin Kohlman, a representative of Northwest Community College, one of three colleges collaborating with Westerfield on the CFP, said Nigerian students should look forward a lot of hands on learning.

    “In Canada we tend to do a lot of learning outside.  If you are a business student, you go and work in companies and bring the knowledge back.  If you are doing Geology, you learn by going on field trips,” he said.

    Kohlman also added that students get a lot of support from the college during their stay.

    Other schools that would accept CFP from Westerfield are: Northern Lights College, and

    Principal of Westerfield College, Mr Dare FAlodun, praised the initiative for the opportunity to provide Nigerian students with top quality education.

    “I have no doubt that this partnership will enable us provide top notch education for our students,” he said.

    Dosunmu added that Westerfield was equal to the task of managing the one-year CFP.

  • Sultan urges parents to monitor wards

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, has advised parents to monitor their wards on social media use.

    The Sultan spoke at the weekend in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, at the N508 million foundation-laying ceremony of the proposed University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Centre for Qur’an Memorisation.

    The monarch, represented by the Emir of Tshonga, Dr. Haliru Yahayah, said Islam was a religion of peace and urged ummah to live in harmony with their neighbours.

    He admonished Nigerians, particularly parents, to be careful and regulate the usage of social media by youths, noting that it is responsible for most of the crisis confronting the world.,

    “Let us be careful about the use of social media, we must regulate and sanction its usage at home. We must develop strategies on how to manipulate that space to our advantage because their reality is different from ours,” the monarch said.

    The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, described the day as historic, being the first time he prayed at the mosque.

    According to him, the centre will facilitate the learning and memorisation of the Quran.

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who was represented by Commissioner for Water Resources, AbdulRasaq Akorede, noted that memorisation of the Quran is a noble course of Allah. He urged Muslims to always reflect on its meaning.

    Ahmed promised that his government will support the teaching of Islamic education to correct most misconceptions about the religion.,

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, said performance of students, who participated in the last competition at Al-Hikmah University prompted the Muslim community to establish the centre.,

    Chief Imam Prof Abdulganiyu Oladosu noted that only those who contributed generously to the cause of Allah will attain “piety, righteousness and Allah’s consciousness”.

  • Kano overseas scholarship: Parents lament neglect of wards

    Parents of 154 fresh graduates who were sponsored by Kano State to study in India have lamented the untold hardship inflicted on them by the immediate past administration of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who abandoned them and refused to pay their tuition fees.

    Speaking during a reception organised by the state government in honour of the graduates who just passed out after gaining their masters from India on Tuesday, a representative of their parents, Muhammad Mustapha, recounted how Kwankwaso’s administration abandoned them abroad.

    He, however, hailed Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for coming to their rescue by clearing all the backlog of the debts as well as ensuring that the students graduated without problems.

    Ganduje revealed that last year the state paid N2.7 billion for the tuition and other fees of her foreign students despite the economic recession in the country that forced some states to recall their students on government scholarship abroad.

    He reassured that the government would maintain the foreign scholarship for beneficiaries because of the importance his administration attaches to education.

    Ganduje, who lamented that the state’s allocation from the Federal Government had dropped by two-thirds, said himself and all political appointees in the state, now receive half salaries and allowances, to save money to address issues in critical sectors like education.

    “Therefore, this administration would do all it can to sustain and finance the foreign based students to complete their studies, through  efficiently managing the little we receive form the federation account as well as money accruing from internal revenue,” he said.

    Ganduje advised the graduates and others on scholarship not to allow mischievous politicians to use them against his administration, reiterating that the fees paid by the previous government for their education was from the public treasury not anybody’s personal pocket.

    “Nobody did a favour to you by paying for your studies in the first instance. We, that sustained the scholarship, did so with public funds; it is not a favour. We also studied under government scholarship so what is the big deal about it?” the governor queried.

    He commended the graduates for showing understanding to the state’s financial situation as well as for appreciating made different challenges with little earnings, compared with what obtains in the past years, promising to help secure jobs in public and private sectors.

  • Teachers, parents challenged on developing upright society

    Teachers, students and parents have a role to play in the development of sound and morally upright society, a former Executive Secretary, Ojo Local Government Area, Mr Sikiru Adewale Lawal has said.

    Speaking on the 10th anniversary of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Secondary School, Akoka, Lagos, Lawal said teachers, more than parents have a bigger role to play in developing the right leadership character traits in students.

    Lawal, who was represented by Mr Olanrewaju Durojaiye, charged the pupils to be conscious of who they associate with as they grow older.

    He urged them to shun vices, such as cultism, thuggery, hooliganism, and prostitution, if they desire to be the best in life.

    As for parents, he urged them to spend more time with their children.

    “Parents need to spend more time, and not more money, on their children. Spend quality time with them, make them your friend; give them listen ears; don’t allow them to seek answers to questions burning in their heart from friends or neighbours,” he said.

    The Board of Governors of the school Secretary, Mrs Hellen Amata, said within 10 years the school has grown to become a home for young and upcoming leaders who are doing well socially and academically.

    She praised the teachers for their commitment to excellence, adding that the school has consitently posted impressive results since 2012.

    Acting Principal, Mr Mattew Ishola, praised the parents for their support and confidence in the capacity of the school to give their children in rounded development.

    He said the school has continued to record 100 per cent credit in the Senior School Certificate Examinations since 2014, and won the interschool debate organised by the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Lagos State chapter, this year.

    Ishola said the school which threw its doors open on October 3, 2004 with 112 pupils now has about 150 population. He said the management under his leadership is already thinking of how to improve the enrolment by ensuring that the school continues to be one of the best.

    An old pupil of the school, Miss Boboye Fashola (2012 set), said: “On behalf of my colleagues who are here and several others I say a big thank you to all our teachers and wish our alma mater well,” she said.

    The highlight of the event was the inauguration of the old students’ association and award presentation.

     

  • Parents laud govt’s decision on Unity Schools’ PTA levies

    Some parents of pupils in the 104 Unity Schools nationwide have lauded Federal Government’s cancellation of development levies charged by Partes Teachers Association for new students. They also lauded government’s pegging of all dues at N5 000 per term.

    The parents who spoke in their individual capacities over the weekend, described those who are calling for the reversal as profiteers of the funds meant to improve students’ welfare.

    The parents many who are from King’s College Lagos, but pleaded not to be mentioned for the fear of exposing their children in the school for victimisation, lamented that over the years, parents have been moaning of paying those levies which to them, are not commensurate with the development of the students socially and academically.

    The parents believe the new N5000 levy should be adequate for the PTA to run the activities expected of them, provided that leadership of the association is transparently and accountable.

    A few months ago, the Federal Government through its Ministry of Education banned the collection of development levies by Parents Teachers Associations (PTA) 104 Unity Colleges. It henceforth put the PTA at N5000 across board.

  • PARENTS, YOU ARE SLEEPING TOO MUCH! (II)

    DEAR Temilolu, Parents are to be blamed for their children’s immorality. Let all parents abide with this ideology-when watching films with teenagers and amorous scenes come up, parents need to change the channel or switch off completely. Secondly, parents are buying electronic devices with easy accessibility to the internet through which our children can watch blue films. Parents, especially mothers, are closest to their daughters. I got married to my wife with her virginity intact. The secret is that when she was in primary school her mum always told her that once a man touched her, she would automatically get pregnant. My wife ran from the male folk till she got married. Mothers, beware!

    Mr. Okunola, Lagos

    Dear Temilolu,

    Please discuss how parents can successfully raise their children to be morally-upright. We are the first teachers of our children and if we fail to teach them the principle of chastity EARLY in life and they are molested, who then are we being busy looking for money to take care of? We must wake up from our slumber.

    Mr. Aghojare Blessing

    Parents of my darling, precious, glorious, dignified, world-famous and heavenly celebrated Nigerian sisters,

    More than any time in history, the world out there is extremely hostile and of very bad influence not only to the kids, teenagers, adolescents but even adults. Acts which under normal circumstances are bad and should be frowned at are openly celebrated by the society itself. This is a time when traditional family values have gone extinct. The institution of marriage has lost its sanctity, extra-marital affairs have become a norm, most wives have come to accept it as a way of life and are only too grateful they have someone to call a husband. What more? A lot of guys especially celebrities who your children see as role models now prefer having baby-mamas than a properly married wife perhaps so they can sow their wild oats unhindered for as long as they wish and the society celebrates them. To worsen things, it is the baby-mama who eventually loses out. She becomes the victim; the baby she carried for nine months in her womb could be taken away from her under some funny excuse and when she cries out, a campaign of calumny is set up against her! Most of these baby-mamas are young and eventually continue their life’s journey with a distorted mind except by divine intervention. How then can they successfully raise a child in a morally-decadent society like this especially when a family pattern has been established? May God help us!

    Tips on raising girls in a morally-decadent world

    1. ARREST THEIR HEARTS

    Ages 0-4 unknown to most parents, especially mothers, are the most critical period of a child’s life. They are just arriving into a world that has been made bad and almost unfit to live by evil, a very deceptive and confusing world which has turned so many little glories to little demons even before they begin their journey in life. A world where it is very foolish to trust your life with anyone, least of all your children’s life.

    After God who formed them in your womb, you are next in line to determine how their destiny goes. You, in fact, need a total overhauling of your heart which is what informs your actions and behaviour which your child is keenly observing. You’ll be surprised at what these kids can grasp as little as they are. Sometimes they act like spirit-beings perhaps because they are just arriving from another world entirely.

    Proverbs 4:23 says “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

    This world is controlled by both good and bad. The good in it is spear-headed by God while the bad in it is championed by the devil. Parent, you know who is controlling your heart. Who or what controls your heart determines how you would raise your children.

    To be continued.

    My darling, precious, glorious, dignified, world-famous and heavenly celebrated Nigerian sisters,

    A lot of your parents are lost in the storms of life, some of them have very faulty upbringing and till today do not realise that fact neither have they bothered to steer you on the right path. You are 75% responsible for your success in life and you really need to brace up as life itself is a huge fight. You need to put up a fight for your mind to be sanitised of filthy thoughts and erotic feelings. Just as God wants your attention, the devil as well is fighting wildly for your soul. Let’s all kneel down by our bedside tonight from 9pm- 9:30pm and pray this prayer until you sweat and the prayer resonate in your spirit.

    “Oh God my father, fight for me in the day and in the night, on the valley and on the mountain in the name of Jesus.”