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By Gabriel Dike, Rita Ugo and Praise Adeagbo
Mixed reactions have trailed the conduct of summer coaching class for students during the long holiday among parents, students and even teachers.
Currently, the majority of schools are engaged in summer class for their pupils and others from different schools. The lesson involves academic and extra-curricular activities.
Daily Sun gathered that schools began the campaign immediately after the 2nd semester exam and some distributed flyers to parents or put it in the report cards of the pupils.
Some parents rebuffed the schools insisting that the long holiday is meant for the children to relax their brain or go on holiday outside their areas or travel to see grandparents or relations.
The working parents, especially the single parents, easily embraced summer class without hesitation because of their work schedule.
For schools and teachers, they see the summer lesson as an opportunity to make extra money and also prepare the students ahead of their new classes.
Michael Adebayo, an artisan, is one parent who does not approve of children attending summer school. He insists that the long holiday is for the children to relax their brain or go on holiday.
“For some years now, I have ignored my children’s school demand to enroll them for summer lesson. I prefer during the long vacation, my children go on holiday to my brother or sister’s place outside Lagos.
“The last time I agreed and sent them to summer school, they spent the time playing. Teachers do not monitor them, they are left to play and sleep in the class until it is closing time. The school is just after extra money.
“If my children don’t travel, they sleep, wake up late and watch educational programmes on TV. Also, the lesson doesn’t come cheap and parents are made to buy some books. The situation in the country requires me to manage my finances,” he explained.
A single mother of two, Miss Rebecca Okoli, described summer school as a major relief to her during the long holidays because of her work schedule.
Okoli said even during the normal school period, her kids engage in extra lessons and the long holiday helps keep them in school for computer classes; robotics; coding and music classes.
She argued that the summer class also serves as an avenue to prepare his children ahead of their new classes.
“From their primary school days and now, I have accepted the holiday lesson due to the nature of my job. It is also an opportunity for them to learn new things and prepare ahead of their next classes,” Okoli argued.
Mr. Yinka Alade, a teacher at a private school in Ikotun, said the advantages of the summer school outweighs the disadvantages and noted that the emphasis is not about money.
Alade, a Maths teacher, said during the summer classes, the students are taught coding, robotics and learn what they will encounter in their new classes next academic session.
For Mr. Kelvin Nwachukwu, a technician, he told the Daily Sun that the summer school is good for children but what scared him are the cost implications.
“With three kids in secondary schools and my meagre salary, I can’t afford to send them to the summer classes. I am saving for the resumption of a new session in September.
“My children spend the holiday at home because of what their school is demanding as payment for the summer classes. I will rather save and use the money to buy new books and pay the fees. The extra lessons have advantages but I can’t meet up financially,” Nwachukwu stated.
Uwakwe Augustine Chibuikem, a 16-year-old student in SS11, a student of De Basic International School, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, described summer school as an opportunity for students to prepare for the new academic session and the opportunity to briefly understand some subjects that may be strange to them in the new class.
He explained that his school allowed the primary pupils to be introduced to new skills like baking, sewing, bead making, etc, making the summer lesson more fun for them. “I also want to participate in the baking classes, but it is only allowed for the junior students,” he said.
Uwakwe wished that his school would introduce new skills for senior students like computer training, cooking classes, etc, to make it more interesting for them.
Another student, Umeche Kosiso Williams, a 12-year-old pupil of Unique Success Academy, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, observed that the summer school is different from the normal classes because the teacher summarizes their previous class and prepares them for the class ahead.
He disclosed that they are not taught any new skills, unlike other schools, and really wish his school would use the long holiday to teach them some skills, instead of studying all day.
Another student, Innocent Alex, a 14-year-old pupil of Lofty Heights School, Festac, Lagos notes that summer class is different from the normal school as it is more fun than the normal school they are used to.
Innocent said that the external teachers are friendly and the students are taught new things like introduction to computer while other classes are taught different skills like soap making, bead making and knitting.
A parent, Mrs. Adaobi Clara Chukwudozie, a nurse, confirmed that she enrolled her daughter for the summer coaching because it was not expensive compared to last year and was compelled to pay for it as well as the after school lessons.
Chukwudozie disclosed that she preferred her child to be at home resting, rather than paying for summer school but because of the nature of her job, she had no other option than to enroll her to a summer class to be taught and looked after with the other children.
She praised teachers who show up for summer lessons and noted how stressful it will be to be teaching during the holiday instead of using the opportunity to take a break.
Orazuime Ebele, a teacher at Lofty Heights School, Festac, Lagos, said summer school is not compulsory, adding, “I don’t fancy students coming to school after a long academic session.” She also stressed that summer lessons are hardly done in the Eastern part of the country.
Orazuime believes that teachers should use the long holiday to rest, prepare the new syllabus and also attend workshop or seminar.
Ndubuisi Vivian, a teacher at Eagle Kids Academy, Isheri Oshun, Lagos, argued that summer school is necessary as some children tend to play and forget all they have learnt in their previous classes thus making it impossible for the teacher to move on with the next syllabus. “Children should not be given too much time to rest and they should make use of their brain while it is still hot,” she noted.
Olowatobiloba Emmanuel Adedeji, an SS 11 student at Melvin School in Ojodu,Berger, Lagos, says that he enjoys regular school because it’s lively and it involves many subjects and activities.
He explained that summer school is different, “summer school is about studying a few subjects quickly, and then going home. It’s shorter and less exciting compared to the full school day.”
As Olowato moves to a new class, he’s getting ready with some guidance from his teachers about the new subjects he will study, “I don’t know if things like robotics are included in summer lesson. It is not clear yet.”
Edo Emmanuel, an SS 111 student at Speedway School in Ojodu Berger, Lagos, acknowledged that summer school keeps students busy during holidays, noting, “summer lessons keeps us busy so our parents can work or do other things. Unlike normal classes, in summer school students are introduced to topics to prepare them for the next session.
He also disclosed that in summer schools, students are taught skills like coding and robotics. Edo insists that summer school is not just about passing time, it also gets students ready for the next academic session, and teaches them skills like coding.
Paul Oba, an SS 12 student at Ogba Grammar School, Ikeja, Lagos, said holiday lessons help keep kids learning, “summer school freshens our brains and keeps us from getting rusty by playing too much during the vacation,” Oba noted.
He further stated that at summer school, students are taught new things and prepare them ready for the new session and acknowledged that not all summer schools teach new things.
According to him, summer school isn’t just extra classes, it helps students learn new things, balance their extra curricular activities, study, and prepare them for what’s coming next.
A parent, Sarah Obasi Elizabeth, a nurse and mother to 10-year-old boy, emphasized the importance of summer school for working families, “I work long hours at the hospital, so I need a safe place for my son,” she argued.
She also noted its academic benefits, saying, “If Alex just plays video games all summer, he forgets things. Last year, he had trouble with Maths when school started. This programme helps him review and even includes fun activities.”
On the cost, she explained, “It’s about N30, 000 for four weeks, including meals and activities. That’s not cheap, but the school helps families like us. A sitter or full-day camp could cost N60, 000 or more, so this is worth it for peace of mind and learning.”
Mrs. Funmilayo Adeyemi from Divine Grace Private School in Ojodu Berger, Lagos, explained that it is compulsory for teachers to be available for summer lesson after the long academic session to prepare for the next term, attend workshops, and oversee summer activities, despite the need for rest. She highlighted that new resources like updated textbooks, creative materials, and digital tools are brought on board for summer school to enhance learning.
Adeyemi also emphasized that summer class is necessary to help students catch up, stay sharp, and allow teachers to reinforce concepts for a stronger academic year.
Mr. Tunde Okonkwo, a teacher at Star Diamond International Schools in Ojodu, Berger, Lagos, argued that summer school is necessary to help students improve academically and allow teachers to refine their methods for a strong start to the next term. “Yes, I believe summer school is necessary. It helps our students to improve on weak areas and stay active academically. For us teachers, it’s a chance to refine our methods and ensure a solid start to the next term,” he said.
