Education plays a pivotal role in all of our lives and paves the way for all of us to reach our highest potential. It is extremely important to understand what education is. Education is an essential process in human development. It is different from schooling. Schooling is just one aspect of education or how education is provided. On the other hand, education deals with the total process of human learning by which knowledge is imparted.
According to Late Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
In the Nigeria system of government today, education is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Education. The local authorities take responsibility for implementing state-controlled policies regarding public education. And the state schools education system is divided into Kindergarten, Primary education, Secondary education, and Tertiary education.
Until recently, summer schools in the past were meant to prepare exit pupils in primary and secondary schools in Nigeria. However, this has helped students to cover many topics that were not covered during school sessions.
Again, there are many reasons why primary and secondary schools have made summer school more important to parents or guidance by offering free or cheap extra lessons fees, in order to attract more students or pupils in the new academic session, calling for more patronage.
However, some schools have projected it to be a preparatory class for the next class. Yet, to some people, it serves as an additional income to the school and teachers that participate during the summer school lesson.
METRO FOCUS in their usual way, went round the city centre to sample the opinions of parents and guidance to the effect that,” is summer school necessary?
Mrs Kangmut Stephen, a mother of three said that “Summer School is generally good in my own opinion. I see it as one of the best ways for a child to develop quickly in academics, because it reduces unnecessary activities for the children. For instance, watching cartoons, playing games and always using other gadgets. At least, if children would spend an hour or more in summer school, it would reduce plenty of time spent idly.”
She added that being a mother and with her experience with her children, it has helped their grades a lot. Because whenever they return from school, she checks their grades and the subjects to know where they have challenges. “When it is a long vacation,I enroll them in summer school and specifically on the subjects they have challenges with.”
In this mother’s submission, summer school is important for the children. If you can afford to pay , it is very good.
Mrs Stephen believes some parents have reservations about summer school because it is an avenue for the children to meet friends from the opposite sex and nothing else. “I believe that some parents are against it because they feel it is just a waste of resources. Sometimes at the end of the summer school, some children may not even pick up to remedy his or her deficiency in certain areas of studies.
Stephen said a worst case scenario is the case of children who are enrolled in summer school but never attend. They would use the time to visit their friends. In that case, it behoves parents to be alert and check the activities of their wards.
A secondary school teacher and a parent, Mrs Philomina Christopher said that in her own opinion as a teacher and a parent, summer lesson is very helpful. “Because if a child is having challenges concerning his/her academics, I think summer lessons are the best way to help that child. They help the students or pupils to build a solid academic foundation, develop new skills for their future and keep their minds sharp, alert.”
Mrs Christopher said the benefits are numerous. They also include boosting their confidence and preparing them for the next class.
One of the reasons parents find summer school attractive, Mrs Christopher added,” is that they keep children busy and away from trouble during the holiday. For example, they keep them away from bad friends and bad company as they engage in summer lessons and that will improve them greatly in their academics. I think as a parent and as a teacher, summer schools or lessons are necessary”, she concluded.
A parent who didn’t want his name to be in print suggested that Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and all other regulatory bodies such as the Ministry of Education should step in. Parents need to be educated. Parenting is a responsibility for the parent, not the school. It is one of the reasons some parents never ever get to truly know and understand their kids. A child who did not play while growing up would miss childhood because energy is channelled towards academics only. Some parents don’t ever allow their children to play. They forget that all work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.
“Adults need to play sometimes, much less children. My dear parent, please let that kid just enjoy the holiday playing and maybe learning a few things by the side. A holiday should be a holiday!
Engr. Dan Finbong, a parent said “summer school is not a bad idea for one to enrol their child. But a disadvantage to summer school is when you have your children over stressed by engaging them in all those kinds of activities, they might not have the kind of parental guides that they need at home. So, when they are on holiday, I believe they need all the parental guides that will guide them through their own upbringing.
He added that he would prefer to have his children/ward at home with him during the holiday for him to be able to put them through other activities like providing them with other skills that they might not really get in school.
He maintained that enrolling your children in summer school is not a bad idea, but depending on the situation, they can utilise that time to gain more knowledge in other skills like baking of bread, fashion design, carpentry work, leather work etc. Children can combine both during the holidays, but parents should ensure that they choose the best skills or the summer school for their children.
Some parents enrol their children in summer schools because of their busy schedule at their work place.So for such parents, summer school is the best for them.
METRO FOCUS gathered that some parents suggested that a child that grows with skills would be in a better position to add value to themselves and the society. And if the child knows how well to use his or her skills in sports, it would be a great advantage along with education.
In today’s world, there are many opportunities before our Children. We only need to guide children into their future. It is not just about buying them the best of toys, clothes and pizza. It is also about helping to bring them to the point where they see the possibilities that are there for those who have the necessary skills to become self-reliant and possibly, job and wealth creators too.
