Christopher Oji
Over 50 students of Government Senior Secondary School, Victoria Island, Lagos were recently certified as good readers after passing through a six-month reading proficiency training sponsored by Rotary Club of Falomo.
The club had few years ago embarked on a massive reading campaign aimed at promoting the efficiency of students in the use of English Language and also improve the reading culture.
Some of the students who hitherto could not pronounce two letter words were certified profficient in pronunciation as well as spelling.
At the graduation of over 50 secondary students, the chapter President, Mr. Ndubuisi Okaro said over 100 students entered to be trained in the mastery of English in reading and writing, but only 51 endured till the last day as others dropped along the way.
Okaro, who said the training ran for over three months and maintained that it was the club little way to assist in ensuring that the leaders of tomorrow get a solid educational foundation.
While also gifting the graduating students with various educational materials, cash prizes and certificates, Okaro said the training would be continuous as new sets of students in their hundreds would also benefit from the scheme soonest.
Emphasising on the importance of the training, the chapter president said, “These students will make the country a better place. They are the future leaders so we must ensure that they have a solid education.
“The program was successful and rigorous. Three times a week, resource persons were around to teach the students how to read, pronounce and write in correct English. At the end of the duration, we were able to identify the most improved and the best students amongst them and cash prizes were awarded to them.
“We therefore appeal to the students to take their studies seriously so that we will be encouraged to continue the program with others. It is our way of trying to improve on their literacy and educational level.”
One of the consultants and Founder of Flip Book Foundation, Benita Nzeribe lauded the students for embracing the opportunity saying, “there is no shame in not knowing how to read because sometimes the problem may not be from the student but as a result of poor academic foundation and not having good teachers. But these students have now improved tremendously. It is amazing that some of them, who could not pronounce two letter words, can now do it with ease and read proficiently.”
The principal of the school, Mr. Taofeek Agbalaya expressed appreciation about the gesture by the club, adding that the club had identified a major area of challenge facing the students.
According to him, “At the secondary school level, teachers don’t have the time to start going back to teach what the students ought to have learnt while in primary school. We are restricted to the curriculum. We are so happy that the Rotary Club of Lagos, Falomo chapter have decided to ease this stress and make students better in the use of English Language.