THE SCHOOL LIBRARY:A WAKE UP CALL TO NIGERIAN PARENTS

…firstly we wish to quote from an earlier write-up as follows

” Today, we educators must come to terms with the realities of our info-tech age. The methods used in the past to educate us are in the main not relevant to our children. There are too many distractions calling for their attention within the limited time available for studies. Unfortunately many students are often mistakenly labeled as lazy or lacking needed concentration! But by the time you take out school hours, class assignments, home chores, family socials and commitments, Premier/ Champions Leagues, Facebook/Twitters, Ipod/Ipad, Big Brother, Naija sings, Naija/American idols,  X-Factor, Bachelor/Bachelorette, hand-held phones and web roaming one is left to ponder when these children can read seriously or ever take their  studies seriously! Above all, we know they have different abilities and competencies. Don’t we? Unfortunately many parents are under the illusion that sending children to boarding houses will limit students’ propensities for some of these time-eaters . What  they seem to  forget is that the old dedicated boarding housemasters they knew in their days at school have faded away and that only a few of those left can be compared with the old masters. These days we have those who want to be bribed by parents for “taking care of their children” or “for organizing extra classes” for them. So what needs to be done?”
…what needs to be done is that schools must  plan and implement more remedial and after-school academic enhancement programmes for students…students should  stay longer in their classrooms with less brain-tasking but interesting programmes later in the day when their capacity to concentrate or  assimilate might have been reduced…but  no matter what their situation is they will be better off staying a bit longer in classrooms  than going home at 2pm as day students or their dormitories as boarding students…particularly,parents or school administrators might wish to examine closely what are listed below…

LIBRARY-BASED ACADEMIC CAPACITY- ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMMES 
…are school administrators and owners really aware of the importance of a school library for overall academic excellence?…are parents aware that some programmes can be used to enhance the studies of their children or that a well-oiled school library can be strategically used for this?…in fact,our parents should ask themselves if they have thoroughly checked the library of their children’s school…no matter what is being hidden by school administrators there will always be tell-tale signs of the school’s pursuit for academic excellence or otherwise if parents look more closely at the school library…again u may need ask yourself or the school if it has ever used any of these programmes for your child before?…they include…

a). Periodical integrity checks of JSS/SSS  class notebooks including practical notebooks and textbooks…former for appropriateness,completeness,proper diagrams and labeling
etc…b). Maths Clinic and English Language laboratories for those revealed by internal examinations as “weak” in those subjects…c).
Continuous Maths Practice Scheme / Maths Practicals… d). Novel Summary Scheme…e).Red Notes (Revision) Programme…f). Business
Studies/Intro-Tech Factory Tour…g) .Educational Films (Tell me Why” series)… h). Educational/Infotainment VHS  CDs and comics…  i).
Intelligence- enhancing computer and video games  j). Leadership Exercises  k). Life-Skills and Self-Actualization Programmes…l). Logic and
Law for  stimulation of the reasoning process…m). People and Places, Famous Person and Quotations, Nigerian Politics. Home First Aid
Titbits, Oratory, Elocution and Poise sessions…n). Foreign/Nigerian newspapers and magazine…o). Research and Project Work by SSS
students…p) .Educational Materials for Notice Boards and school magazines (NOTAZINES)…  q). The Complete Works of Shakespeare and
need to actively wake up the interest of all students (whether Arts or Science) in Literature, French and the arts…r). Use of Students’
Companion and Guinness Book of Records…s). Staff improvement workshops
…secondly, almost all these programmes are based or linked  to using a library the proper way…we can therefore not emphasize too much the importance of a well-stocked library with highly motivated and adequately briefed school librarians…a school library is the heart of its academic programme…this we should have in mind at all times above any other consideration such as taking students on visits to London or for safari in Kenya!…however,please call us if u need further briefing , insight or implementation of any of the programmes listed above… happy to let u know too that we have implemented all of them before…thanking u….EDUPEDIA ASSOCIATES

DO U KNOW HOW WAEC/NECO AND JAMB SET AND MARK EXAM PAPERS IN NIGERIA?

1.WE HAVE OFTEN HEARD STUDENTS MAKING WILD ALLEGATIONS THAT UTME, WAEC OR NECO ARE THEIR WORST ENEMIES. SOME IN FACT, SEE THE OFFICIALS OF THESE BODIES AS WICKED SOULS SCHEMING DAY AND NIGHT DEVISING WAYS FOR  FAILING THEM. HOW CORRECT ARE THESE ASSERTIONS? THE FACTS BELOW SPEAKS FOR THEMSELVES!
2.THE TASKS OF SETTING AN EXAMINATION PAPER BEGINS LONG BEFORE THE EXAMINATION DAY, INDEED, MONTHS OR YEARS BEFORE THEN. SEASONED EXPERTS IN  VARIOUS SUBJECTS ARE GIVEN THE TEACHING AND EXAMINATION SYLLABUSES AND REQUESTED TO SET QUESTIONS. THESE ARE COMPILED FOR SUBSEQUENT SCRUTINY. THEN A SECOND SET OF EXPERTS ARE INVITED TO EXAMINE THE QUESTIONS CRITICALLY, MAKE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS AND COME UP WITH QUESTIONS THAT CONFORM TO ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS. THE RESULT OF THIS EXERCISE IS A SET OF POLISHED AND MOSTLY UNAMBIGUOUS QUESTIONS THAT ARE VERY FAIR TO THOSE BEING EXAMINED. THESE QUESTIONS ARE THEN SECURELY STORED.
3.THE NEXT STAGE IS THE REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATES. THIS STAGE INVOLVES NOT JUST THE EXAMINING BODY, BUT ALSO THE CANDIDATES, THEIR PARENTS, THEIR TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS AND SOME OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THIS IS SO BECAUSE APART FROM THE CANDIDATES HAVING TO SUPPLY NECESSARY INFO  FOR WAEC AND NECO THEIR PRINCIPALS HAVE TO ENDORSE THEM WHILE THE PARENTS HAVE TO PROVIDE THE REGISTRATION FEES. ANY MISTAKE OR INACTIVITY ON THE PART OF ANY OF THESE MAY RUIN THE CHANCES OF CANDIDATES. IF THE CANDIDATES MAKE MISTAKES IN INFORMATION SUPPLIED OR IF THE PRINCIPAL DOES NOT FORWARD THE REGISTRATION FEES AT THE RIGHT TIME THEIR CHANCES IN THE EXAMINATION MAY BE JEOPARDIZED.
4.NEXT IS THE CONDUCT OF THE EXAMINATION ITSELF AGAIN, MORE OFFICIALS FROM OUTSIDE THE EXAMINATION BODIES THAN FROM WITHIN THEM ARE INVOLVED.THINK OF THE SUPERVISORS, THE INVIGILATORS, AND EVEN THE SECURITY OFFICIALS. THEY ARE DEFINITELY MORE IN NUMBER THAN THE STAFF OF THE EXAMINING BODIES  AND ANY ONE OF THEM CAN TAKE AN ACTION THAT MIGHT RESULT IN THE FAILURE OF CANDIDATES.TAKE THE INVIGILATOR FOR INSTANCE. IF HE IS NEGLIGENT CANDIDATES COULD SWAP ANSWER SCRIPTS UNDER HIS VERY NOSE AND WHEN THIS IS DETECTED BY THE MARKERS AS IS OFTEN THE CASE IN WAEC/NECO EXAMS. THE RESULTS OF THE CANDIDATES MAY BE WITHHELD OR EVENTUALLY CANCELLED.
5.PROBABLY, THE MOST HATED WAEC/NECO PERSON TO THE CANDIDATE IS THE MARKER WHOM THEY, IN THEIR IGNORANCE, REGARD AS A WICKED DRUNKARD WHO DELIGHTS IN FAILING CANDIDATES. WHAT CANDIDATES DO NOT REALIZE IS THAT AN EXAMINER IS TRAINED TO SCORE POINTS STRICTLY ACCORDING TO A CAREFULLY PREPARED MARKING SCHEME FROM WHICH HE MUST NOT DEVIATE. IT IS HIS CONSTITUTION. BESIDES, HIS WORK IS CONSISTENTLY CHECKED BY THE TEAM LEADER AND WITHOUT ACCURACY HE COULD BE REMOVED/ AND BLACKLISTED. SO CONTRARY TO STUDENTS’ OPINIONS THE EXAMINER IS A SEASONED TEACHER, A CAREFUL SCORER, A PERSON ALWAYS ON HIS GUARD.
6.THE FINAL STAGE IN ALL THE EXAMS COMES WITH THE COLLATION OF RESULTS. THIS STAGE IS MAINLY COMPUTERIZED AND COMPUTERS DO NOT MAKE MISTAKES EXCEPT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THEIR PROGRAMMING. A CANDIDATE’S RESULT MAY NOT BE PROCESSED IF HE IS INVOLVED IN MALPRACTICE, HAS USED A WRONG EXAMINATION NUMBER OR NO NUMBER AT ALL OR IF IN WAEC/NECO, HE FAILS TO WRITE ALL THE PAPERS. SO, WHEN A RESULT IS WITHHELD THE FAULT IS MOSTLY THAT OF THE CANDIDATE.
7. HOW THEN SHOULD WE VIEW THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PUBLIC EXAMINING BODIES? DEFINITELY, WE SHOULD VIEW THEM WITH UNDERSTANDING, SYMPATHY AND APPRECIATION.WE SHOULD ALSO NOTE THESE PROCESSES TO STIMULATE AND MOTIVATE US TO BETTER PERFORMANCE.

10 REASONS WHY U SHOULD JOIN THE LAGOS BOOKS CLUB TODAY!!

1.LBC is one of the largest private libraries for novels in lagos if not in naija!..
2…No registration fees…No hassles…and no subscription payment for hire after 12 months… the reading service becomes free
3…No due dates…No late fees…
4…SIMPLY,BUY,HIRE AND READ…
5…You can even SWAP your books with ours if acceptable to us
6…READ EASY and RETURN at LEISURE without PRESSURE
7…Great titles and Authors for less …bargain hire charges for first 12 months and free readership thereafter!!!…incredible news,not so?…u better believe it cos we are not joking…
8…We can deliver to and collect from any location in the Lagos Metropolis whether home or office depending on size of order
9…We are open on saturdays and sundays too!
10…Seamless cash or banking transactions from behind your desk,lappy or phone!!!…
HOW IT WORKS & HOW TO JOIN
Three simple steps actually…
1…collect our list of books/plans and charges
2…select a plan and create your account  by visiting our location at 5TH AVENUE M CLOSE,HOUSE 27 FESTAC TOWN LAGOS  or by sending  an e-mail by text to the  addresses/telephones  below:
e-mails:lagosbooksclub@yahoo.com  or  edupedianigeria@yahoo.com….telephones:08033010872 ,08027853025
SOMEDAY,SOMEWHERE,SOMEHOW LBC WILL RECEIVE YOUR  PRAISE AND THANKS…SHALL WE SEE YOU,YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TODAY?…PLEASE CALL US IF U LIVE TOO FAR AWAY FROM OUR LOCATION IN FESTAC…SI YA!!!

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALUMNI OF MASON COLLEGE AND PASS TUTORIAL COLLEGE ,FESTAC

1.SCHOOL PICS….please check mason college festac FB wall for your school pics…about 300 already posted but we intend to put about 5000 more!
2.SCHOOL DOCUMENTS..for waec and neco certs,statements of results,testimonials,transcripts,attestations or recommendations please visit 5th avenue,m close house 27, festac town,lagos.
3.ALUMNI ACTIVITIES AND MEETINGS…pls send your current e-mail/telephone.physical location through the colleges FB wall, through the pages u are currently reading as a reply or directly to LBC at  its 5th avenue address above..

SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA WELCOMES EDUPEDIA AND EDUGUIDE!!!

EDUPEDIA: Today, we educators must come to terms with the realities of our info-tech age. The methods used in the past to educate us are in the main not relevant to our children. There are too many distractions calling for their attention within the limited time available for studies. Unfortunately many students are often mistakenly labeled as lazy or lacking needed concentration! But by the time you take out school hours, class assignments, home chores, family socials and commitments, Premier/ Champions Leagues, Facebook/Twitters, Ipod/Ipad, Big Brother, Naija sings, Naija/American idols,  X-Factor, Bachelor/Bachelorette, hand-held phones and web roaming one is left to ponder when these children can read seriously or ever take their  studies seriously! Above all, we know they have different abilities and competencies. Don’t we? Unfortunately many parents are under the illusion that sending children to boarding houses will limit students’ propensities for some of these time-eaters . What  they seem to  forget is that the old dedicated boarding housemasters they knew in their days at school have faded away and that only a few of those left can be compared with the old masters. These days we have those who want to be bribed by parents for “taking care of their children” or “for organizing extra classes” for them. So what needs to be done?… THIS IS WHERE EDUPEDIA COMES IN!!!
For almost 30 yrs we have actively promoted regular schooling and emphasised remedial education for thousands of secondary school students through our PASS TUTORIAL COLLEGE IN FESTAC, LAGOS. Along the line we also got involved in “training the trainers” seminars and conferences. We have not interacted with students in private schools only but   have also been appointed to serve on rescue teams of public secondary schools such as Festac Girls High School. In the same vein we are still serving on the Education Foundation Board of 17 public primary schools in ONIGBONGBO LCDA OF LAGOS and have conducted Jamb clinics for 500 students located at three different centres for the Amuwo Odofin LGA.We have also been guest speakers at the valedictory ceremonies of schools such as LIGHTHOUSE SECONDARY SCHOOL IKORODU. We have  been praised for our qualitative contribution to students’ education and have made our impact felt wherever we were invited .As far back as 2006 we reviewed the state of things in public schools in Nigeria generally and sent  a detailed write up on what needed to be done to the then Honourable Minister of Education Mrs Ezekwesili She replied almost immediately  thanking and promising to get us more involved in future. But she had to return shortly after to the World Bank. We also sent the same write-up to the two houses of the national assembly and all education parastatals attached to the FMOE. Same to MOEs for each state through their liaison offices in Abuja. Though we got invited later for additional exploratory discussions by a few states such as Ogun, Plateau, Imo, and Cross Rivers nothing tangible has resulted from these contacts.
EDUGUIDE therefore is  a summary of what we have produced/achieved so far to ease the modern-day  realities of students and their teachers .It is also our way of “preaching” on a national level what needs to  be done to improve the system. The topics compiled under EDUGUIDE will be useful for future interaction or discussions with us not only for clinics or seminars but as reference by schools and parents  We have divided the topics for easy reference under the main headings of the handbills previously published above as follows:
EDUMATHS…(Maths Clinics and Seminars): 9 topics.
EDUSPRING… (English Language/Literature Clinics and Seminars): 21 topics.
EDUSTEM/EDUJAMB… (Study and Exam Techniques Clinics and Seminars covering, WAEC/NECO, Jamb, Sat. and Toefl exams): 24 topics.
EDUCARE… (Motivational ,Mentoring and “Finishing Touches” Clinics and Seminars): 47 topics.
EDUSTAFF… (various Seminars, Workshops and Conferences):32 topics.
In addition to clinics and seminars please free to invite us as guests or motivational speakers to your students, staff and parents on topical issues relating to the broad outlines above. We shall be willing to cover your special events including valedictories, parents’ open days, inter-house sports days, students’ clubs and societies’ days, prefects’ boot camps or installation ceremonies.
THANKING YOU