Education
Students, parents ditch holiday classes, opt for skills learning – Daily Trust
As schools are on holiday, the norm is to engage students in holiday classes. This, of course, comes with extra payments that parents shoulder.
Years back, holiday classes were compulsory for students who were in the exit class, but later, many schools, especially private ones, made it a part of the school calendar for all pupils and students.
However, some stakeholders raised concerns about the arrangement, saying that students need some time to rest after working for the term.
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Moreover, the skyrocketing cost of living in Nigeria has made it difficult for families to afford indulgence in extra activities in schools after payment of fees and other expenses.
Also, the quest for skills acquisition to empower students to be efficient in producing products or services to make money/self-employment has captured the minds of many parents and students, so many have diverted their holidays to learning a skill or two instead of attending lessons in schools.
A student, Faith Akpan, said she does not go for holiday classes anymore because her parents said they could not afford that after paying fees.
“My dad said we do lessons after school and that I did not need to go for others. So instead, he said I should join my mum in her shop and assist her,” she said.
On if she feels she was missing something, she said, “No I am not missing anything. They teach us the same thing we learn in school, and most times we get only one or two. I can always read to make up.”
Another student, Felix Madu, said his school no longer organised holiday lessons because most students had stopped attending as their parents refused to pay.
“Most of my classmates said they want to rest too and do other things during the holidays and will not come to school to study during the school break. So, I know most of us who are doing different things; for me, I enrolled in a chess class, and I am also learning the installation of dish for DSTV,” he said.
He said he will only enrol in holiday classes when he is about to write his final examination and that he will prefer a private lesson or another place, but not in his school.
According to him, that will make him learn something new and also pay more attention.
For Fatima Ali, she preferred to learn a skill and has enrolled in beads accessory making.
Fatima said she admired what could be made with beads and pleaded with her parents to enrol her where she could learn the skill. “I am learning how to make necklaces, bracelets, bags, vessels and others with beads and its more exciting than attending lessons in school.
After, I can make them even while school is in session and start making my own money. “
A parent, Yakubu Musa, said his children were at home and he could not afford to pay money for lessons for three of them.
“I stopped the holiday classes because of money, and they need to rest their brains too; have enough sleep; and their mother, who wakes up early to prepare them, also needs a break.
If they spend all year round in school it may have a negative impact on then,” he said.
He said though the school is organising lessons for some skills, but he chose to enrol them at home where it is easy and flexible to manage.
“Holiday classes are no longer necessary because even during school days, there are days dedicated to extra lessons. So it won’t be wise for students to continue through the holidays,” he said.
Another parent, Sydney Onwa, said he does not see the need for holiday classes now when paying fees is already proving difficult; but maybe for students who are in the exit class.
“The holiday is a time to rest and recover the energy lost during the school activity days. Though I know some children can be a handful during the holidays and some parents prefer them to go outside the house, but I don’t think it’s adding much value.
“When my kids were attending, my son said they taught them two subjects only and that they played most of the time. So I stopped them and many parents too stopped paying and the school had to stop it,” he said.
Reacting, a teacher who identified himself only as Adewale, said holiday classes are no longer appealing to many students and parents because it cost extra money, which many parents are not willing to part with now because of the challenging times.
He said in his school, they have only a few students attending and they were those whose parents didn’t want them to stay at home, and those in the exiting class.
“Before, we used to have a lot of private lessons for students as well, but now it’s difficult to get. You get just one or two, and mostly when they are preparing for big exams like WAEC, NECO, JAMB or others. Now most parents send them to their business places or to learn a trade while some stay at home throughout the holidays,” he said.
A school proprietor, Ojonugwa Michael, said the holiday classes are no longer an attraction because of the costs.
“Many parents are struggling to pay school fees and now you are talking of extra lessons that will also be paid for. So they won’t even answer you. Imagine if you have to pay N30,000 for lesson and you have four kids. So, many parents have refused and my school has to stop it,” he said.
He said this year is even more difficult, as this is in addition to the festivities that were marked. So many parents have many activities to meet up financially and will not look for extra costs.
He said the situation in the country is changing a lot of things and affecting so many activities even in schools.
He said the holiday lessons are usually for students who indicate interest and teachers to make extra earning. So now, only a few parents agree to enrol their children and because of that some of the teachers have to stop.
On the skill acquisition attraction, he acknowledged it, adding, however, that even if the school offers such opportunities, not all parents pay for it.
