By Primary and secondary schools in Oyo State resumed on Tuesday after a long holiday. Although quite a number of children are still at home, some students have resumed school.
On Wednesday, I was about to prepare breakfast when I had the urge to go to one of the schools where I teach phonics to say “hello.” The school is right behind my residence; so, I just put my breakfast on hold and dashed down.
When I got to the school, the proprietress was busy with some parents. I moved round the classrooms, greeted the pupils, and welcomed them back to school. After the round of greetings, I stayed in a classroom close to the proprietress’ office; I intended to dash in as soon as the parents leave. I just wanted to greet her, welcome her to a new session, and go back home to make my breakfast.
Parents forced to enrol their children in the few private schools in
Just as the parents left the office, I showed my face. The proprietress was surprised and excited to see me. I told her I had been around for a while.
Immediately, she said I should teach the pupils. Oh, my! I didn’t see that coming. I wasn’t planning to teach that day but I went ahead to teach.
In one of the classes, a pupil caught my attention. He was not a new student; I taught him last session. However, I noticed a transformation in him.
In the previous session, he was a slow learner and a slow writer. He would hardly talk in class; even when you told him what to say, repeating what you told him was a herculean task for him. He was a pupil that commanded special attention.
As I started interacting with his class, I realized he had become the sharpest pupil in the class. He got answers to questions before others did. For questions that he couldn’t answer immediately, he thought about the questions and figured out the answers before any other pupil could.
I was awed by this new development. This confirmed to me again that you cannot write off any child.
My special message to parents and teachers again is ‘Don’t write off any child, no matter what.’ No matter how dull the child may be, don’t lose hope in him/her. I have seen a dullard transform into a genius. I have seen shy pupils turn into orators.
No, do not give up; hope is not lost. That child will make it; that child will be great. Do your part and give them time. He will shine! She will shine!
