AJEGUNLE ERC STARTS THIS YEARS’ EDITION OF FREE SUMMER COACHING
The Education Rights Campaign
(ERC) – a campaign platform of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) which
fights for free and functional education – has started this year’s edition of
its annual summer coaching for secondary school students in Ajegunle community
of Lagos State. It will last for almost 8 weeks.
The free summer coaching, which is
held daily from 9am to 1pm at the Anglican primary School Ajegunle, started on
August 6th, 2012 with 82 students. On the first day, subjects like
Mathematics, English Language, Government and commerce were taught. The
coaching ended on the first day with an orientation class by Dagga Tolar (DSM
E.C member and editor of the Socialist Democracy) where he spoke about the
essence of education and reading.
By the second day, there was
noticeable increase in the number of students and volunteer teachers in
attendance. The number of students in SSS 1 was 31, SSS 2 was 55 and SSS 3 was 61
all totaling 121 students.
The summer coaching which has
been organized annually over the past years provides opportunity for poor
secondary school children in the working class slum of Ajegunle to study during
the annual long vacation. Last year, over 200 students attended the coaching
with the participation of a total of 25 volunteer teachers.
It is part of the campaign
program of the ERC to highlight the condition of the poor in Ajegunle and such
poor communities across the country who cannot afford the cost of quality education.
The coaching during long vacation is extremely vital for many students
preparing for entrance examinations into higher institutions especially against
the background of the collapse in the quality and standard of education in both
public and private schools.
This years’ edition has started
with a renewed commitment from members of the DSM/ERC, volunteer teachers and
former students to ensure the sustenance of the coaching. Most of the teachers,
who are readily eager to give back to their community, are graduates of
different universities degree holders teaching in neighboring private schools,
public schools and Lagos state EKO project.
We also have students that have
benefitted from past editions of the free holiday coaching coming around to lend
some help. These students aid in tutoring some subjects and assisting in keeping
the coaching premises orderly.
The free holiday coaching has
been one among many of the activities of the organization to support and fight
for the vast less privileged residents in the community and this has increased
the profile of ERC
Four subjects are taken per day
as teachers ensure that the classes are interactive and use five to thirteen
examples to make it easy for students to understand the topic being taught. Not
only is the curriculum very flexible to accommodate initiatives, students and
the volunteer teachers are involved in daily meetings and discussions on how to
best improve the coaching.
Just like previous years, the
summer coaching will play host to some events like career and counseling talks
every Friday, drama, poetry, public meetings and a symposium at the end. Mock
examinations will also be organized with prizes given to the three best
students from the various classes. With the zeal and commitment shown in the
first few days from both members of the DSM/ERC as well as volunteer teachers,
this year’s free summer coaching promises to be as exciting and successful as
last year, if not more.
Moshood Oshunfunrewa
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