REPORT OF PRE-EXAM SEMINAR FOR PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT, WITHIN EDUCATION DISTRICT VI, COMPRISING OF IKEJA, OSHODI/ISOLO AND MUSHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT HELD BETWEEN OCTOBER 2011 AND FEBRUARY 2012.
1.0. INTRODUCTION
Observation has proved that for us to have a more re-assuring future as a society in particular and a nation in general, due attention has to be paid to the representative of the future, most especially the secondary school student because it is believed that the mind of average teenager is still fertile and therefore suitable for the cultivation of “New Crops”.
Research revealed that many students do not prepare for the exams belivini9ng that the question will be difficult and as such will engage in examination malpractice without understanding the consequence or not even being conscious of the act of examination malpractice.
Records have also proved that only 25% of those writing O’level examination annually are able to scale through, due to many involving in examination malpractices resulting to cancellation and or not releasing result of some examination centers.
Poor performance of student in major exams was a menace the Lagos State Government has to wrestle with and made it call a stakeholders meeting to rescue the situations.
ARLFoundation in its quest for a sustainable pathway to discovering the future brings to the fore ‘Pre-Exam Seminar’ for public secondary schools geared ‘Towards Academic Excellence’ especially among students who are preparing to sit for major exams like WAEC, NECO, GCE and UTME.
The purpose of the seminar is not to override the teacher’s position but to enhance it by teaching the students some fundamentals but trivial perquisite a student should possess which will improve the overall performance of the students in the exams.
2.0. PURPOSE AND GOAL.
To enhance the performance of the student during major exams.
To reduce the rate of examination malpractice in secondary school.
To orientate the student on future career choice.
To create an avenue for mentor mentee relationship between the students and professionals.
3.0. ACTIVITY
Our major focus on the pre-exam seminar was centered on 3 core area which includes:
• Learning Skills: Active Listening, Reading, Group Study and Questioning.
• Managing Exam Tension: Anxiety, Nutrition, preparedness, Distraction.
• Leadership: Peer pressure, Exam Malpractice, Character Development, Career Guidance.
3.1. PROGRAM OF EVENT
We were able to go to 12 out of 20 schools proposed due to the school exams and strike that occurred in January 2012and other logistics on our side.
We usually have 3 facilitator and 3 supporting facilitator for each school and in all we have 72 fully engaged resource personnel and other supporting staff.
The program usually commence with national Anthem and the school anthem.
Then the facilitating session which includes the 3 main focus area, that is learning skills, managing exam tension and leadership
3.2. ATTENDANCE
Date Schools Attendance
7/10/2011 Ikeja Senior High School 100
14/10/2011 Agidingbi Senior grammar School 63
19/10/2011 Oke Ira Senior grammar School 303
21/10/2011 Omole Senior Grammar School 164
28/10/2011 Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Secondary School 170
4/11/2011 Isheri Senior Grammar School 304
18/11/2011 Ikeja Senior Grammar School 384
25/11/2011 Ilupeju Senior Grammar School 267
2/12/2011 Unity Senior Secondary School 115
3/02/2012 Birch freeman Secondary School 43
10/02/2012 Ransome Kuti Memorial High School
17/02/2012 Ajumoni Senior Secondary School
3.3. GROUP DISCUSSION
This was an avenue where we task the critical and creative thinking of the student based on the discussion the facilitator had with them. The students were divided into four groups to address the following issues:
• Should parent choose career for the child?
• How can we reduce the rate of examination malpractice?
• How can we achieve academic excellence?
• How can we develop effective study habit?
The group discussion was very valuable as it gives the student opportunity to educate them and engage them in a brainstorming session to proffer solutions that aid their hearing ability.
This is done with help of our personnel who coordinate them and the students appoint one person amongst themselves to present the group conclusions. It helps in building confidence in the student to stand before a crowd.
3.4. QUESTIONNAIRE/FEEDBACK/EVALUATION
For us to ascertain the level of impact, the unbiased opinion expressed by the student is stated below:
• 97% of the students said the program was very valuable while 3% said it was just valuable.
• 15% of the students ‘agreed’ that their expectation was fully met while 85% strongly agreed.
• All the students want ARLF to host the program again in their school while some said they want it on a weekly basis and pleaded if the program could be held before they write their final exams.
• All the students want a mentor in their academics.
3.5. Important things learned during the program.
• Leaders should have a good character.
• We should shun any form of examination malpractice.
• Failure is not the end of life.
• Face your book instead of facebook.
• How to prepare for an exam.
• How to avoid examination tension.
• Procrastination is a thief of time.
• To be a responsible student and ensure teacher/students relationship.
• Never isolate yourself from people who are ready to help you.
• To have a personal time table for reading.
3.6. Suggestion/Comments
• It was suggested that the program should be held in a monthly basis to constantly call the consciousness of the life beyond the shore of the classrooms.
• It was suggested that the program should not be limited to SS3 students only but for all students in every school.
• I am very happy about this program to us student because it gives student more knowledge on how to read and understand. My suggestion is that this program should continue for SS 1, 2 and 3 for them to start preparing from the beginning.
• It was suggested that if there can be a place of counsel where people can come to for counseling because some of the student don’t have a phone, some don’t even know about facebook or twitter.
• A seminar should be set up for teaching and educating students on boldness, self confidence and diligence, as soon as possible (please), before the SS 3 student leave school in other to help them in the future.
3.7. BOOKS
a. Mr. Olusegun Victor Odunaiya supported the project with his publication “Life is a School”. He gave us 25 copies of the book.
b. Mr. Akolawole Shoremi supported the project with his publication “Escaping Your Society Blacklist” an orientation book on Drugs, Crime and Corruption, Examination Malpractice, Cultism and Prostitution. He gave us 40 copies of the book.
c. Copies of both publications were donated to the school library.
3.8. PUBLICITY: The project after endorsement of Lagos State Government was publicized through social media: Twitter and Facebook. Television Continental (TVC) also gave us an avenue to talk about the project on ‘This Morning’ breakfast show.
3.9. VOLUNTEERED FACILITATOR: We used volunteered facilitator to facilitate the session with the student. The recruitment was done through social media. We were able to work with 30 different youth organization and 74 different individual who supported us as volunteers during the project. What amazed us was having volunteer from Ibadan and Abuja.
4.0. RECOMMENDATION: based on our observation and evaluation;
a. We strongly recommend that the days of active academic engagement be limited to 4 days and the remaining 1 day should be used for extra developmental activities such as counseling, career clinic, entrepreneurship, excursion, leadership seminar/symposium, mentoring, practical or technical skills.
b. We also strongly recommend for policy formulation that from the new session commencing this year, student should be stopped from bringing phones to schools and that any student caught would be given suspension of 2 weeks and if the student persist, would be dismiss from school.
c. we strongly recommend that the parent be advise during PTA or Stakeholders meeting that they should avoid their wards being exposed to some gadget and entertainment (i.e. advise parent on some exposure to be avoided for the children)
d. Student feedback about teachers (evaluation form with anonymity of the person who fill it).
e. Teachers feedback about students and principals.
f. Stakeholders should be participatory and not one side thing and should involve the statutory authority such as WAEC, NECO and Jamb.
g. We would appreciate if the Ministry of Education advise the District and School Managers to see Civil Society as partners in progress and not put them in a situation that portray government as a complex/difficult institutions.
4.1. CHALLENGES
• Bureaucracy Process.
• Some school does not have halls.
• No sponsor
4.2. APPRECIATION: Our profound gratitude goes to Mr. Raji Assistant Director of the Counseling Unit at Akoka, Mrs. Fadiji, Mrs. Olusoga and Mrs. Amaka, Mr. Oshodi all of Education District 6, the Principals of all school visited, the volunteered facilitator and the ARLFOundation team for their financial and moral commitment towards the success of the project.
4.3. CONCLUSION
The Essence of the project was achieved and target audience was reached as the entire participants were satisfied and they have this to say:
This program, I think it’s been well organized and I totally enjoyed every bit of it, and I don’t regret being here. Thank you so much because I learn new things that can lead to my academic excellence. By Idris Sarah.
My comment is that you should keep on doing what you know how to do best. I love the topics, advise and everything. And keep the candle burning. Thank you. Awonusi Blessing 08052310722
I would like to say thank you to all the facilitators for helping me understand how to manage myself, peer pressure and to have a vision for my future and see myself doing better things than others and also the best. Thank you. By Nweze Florence 08086783521
My suggestion is if you guys continue touching lives like you did to mine, I am sure this country will have a generation filled with leaders and successful people. Thank you and God bless you. By David Sarah 08061211706
Compiled by:
Akangbe Jamiu Ekundayo
08066393577.
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