Principal Solicits Parents’ Support for Safety Education

The Principal, Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Essien, has called on parents to support the federal government in realising the goal behind the introduction of Safety Education in schools.

Essien, who made the call during the inauguration and handing over of some projects donated by the 1992 set of graduates of the school, said for academic excellence to be achieved, there is need for parents to show commitment and step up their responsibilities in the welfare of their children.

“Parents must complement the efforts of the schools in ensuring the safety of their children at all times especially in this period when kidnapping and other vices are on the rise. In our school for instance, we give our children safety education lessons from time to time, as proposed by the federal government.

“We talk to them on the need for them to always walk in groups as well as report whenever they discover that any of their classmates is not there. In addition we emphasise the need for them to always appear in their correct and appropriate school uniforms at all times and avoid speaking to strange persons or those they are not familiar with.”

Essien said the federal government has insisted on the importance of safety education and why it must be thoroughly taught in schools as a part of Civic Education which is in the curriculum, adding that schools are expected to impart it on the learners as out of curriculum teaching or hidden curriculum.

“The Federal Ministry of Education is taking the issue of safety education seriously as we are told from time to time how to guide the children through seminars and workshops. This will ensure that we improve our skills on security and safety in schools.

“It is for this reason that we urge parents to join hands with us to ensure that the safety or security education thing is effectively imparted in our children.”

The principal also stressed that education remains a collaborative project between the home and the school, saying that it was for this reason that the Federal Ministry of Education endorsed the school-community relationship in schools.

She cited the School Based Management Committee and the Parent Teacher Association as some of the approved collaborative bodies, adding that parents on their own must live up to their responsibility in ensuring that their children are well monitored and tutored on matters of security.

She said the school is always willing to provide useful information or security tips that would ensure safety of the students. “Parents have a huge role to play just as they must insist to know the type of friends their children keep and where they are at any given time. They must also ensure that they give these children moral and psychological pep talks always.”

She commended the 1992 set of old students of the college for their magnanimity by providing what she described as a state-of-the-art science laboratory and a world class buffer clinic for the students.

“The old students have been very supportive as we can see from the inauguration of two great projects they have completed and donated to their alma mater. The national body decided to renovated, re-roof and re-equip the Chemistry Laboratory into some sort of modern science centre.

“In the same vein, the 1992 set also donated a buffer clinic, a sick bay annex as part of activities to mark their 25th year of leaving the college. I must commend them for this show of love as these projects would go a long way in impacting teaching and learning.”

The Chairperson, Caretaker Committee of the 1992 set, Mr. Sherrif Adesanya, said the intervention was more of their love for the college. “We have a very strong tie with the school, that nostalgic feeling we have always had for the school and so we felt it proper to give back to it as part of our corporate responsibility.

“We considered the fact that the population of students today in the college cannot be compared to what we had back then and this most likely will result to decay of infrastructure. And so the need to look back and see how we can come in to assist in providing facilities that would enhance teaching and learning.”