Stay focused to be successful in school

Devastating news in the past week — 2017 O-level English Paper 2 examination to be re-written. People have spoken and to further discuss the issue here will be doing a disservice and diluting candid opinions proffered on the subject.

People are hopeful that the new dispensation will solve what in some cases have become perennial problems. Children’s Rights groups are crying for help for learners who have dropped out of school because their parents have failed to pay school fees. Do not misconstrue this for the previous article where the outcry was on schools withholding learners’ results for failing to pay fees. This is the answer to the sprouting of unregistered schools and colleges.

Formal schools demand high amounts of money for first time learners which parents cannot afford. Conversely, unregistered schools and colleges charge amounts as little as five dollars a month which appear reasonable though there is very little learning which takes place there; Learners spend most of the time playing. The teachers found there are not qualified such that those amounts of money paid there are going down the drain. Learners do not benefit anything from there.

Parents who send their children there are aware that they are short changed but there is nothing they can do. Their children are thirsty for education which they are denied through the formal sector. Formal schools are refusing to budge. No fees, no school. They follow circulars which direct them to take children without paying all the fees. The circular is hard to come by after an undertaking that it is on its way.

Schools on their part do not follow directives from the media, but, follow directives from their line ministry. Heads of schools do not act on what they read from the media otherwise they will make wrong decisions, but they wait for circulars. As long as it has not been made clear the position on non-payment and payment of school fees, the heads stand guided by what the previous circular said. If they were not allowed to take learners who did not pay fees they will continue to do so.

But as the impasse goes on learners are disadvantaged. There are parents and guardians who have withdrawn their children from school because they cannot afford the fees. Payment plans have not worked for them because of these first time payments they are failing to pay. Meanwhile, when such things are taking place, it is also disturbing to hear that bullying is resurfacing at some schools. Bullying should be nipped in the buddy as it subjects young learners to severe stress and affects their learning. Indeed schools and parents should join hands and stop it. Much has been said on this subject and one would think it no longer exists in schools.

Those learners who want to revive such barbaric acts should not be allowed to succeed. Harmful norms should be discarded.

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