12 FACTORS FOR SUCCESS IN A NIGERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL

LETTER TO MY CHILD FOR SUCCESS IN A NIGERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL

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My Dear Child,

I give you good tidings from your mother, brothers and sisters at home. Also from our good friends, LAGOS BOOKS CLUB and their parent company EDUPEDIA ASSOCIATES. Last week I discussed part of what worries me about your education/studies with them and these are the notes they willingly and freely asked me to pass to you. Please go through them as I intend to have more discussions with you for implementing many of their suggestions. My son, I pray God will bless them into your heart mightily. Amen. Please note that I added my comments  in a few paragraphs  though.

NOTES OF EDUPEDIA ASSOCIATES/LAGOSBOOKSCLUB

1. Self-assessment. There are some hard questions you need address to yourself such as “Do i go to school to please my parents or just to be with my friends?” or “What exactly am i attending school for?”

2. Manner of speech. A good way to show your educational level is the way and manner you speak .Firstly, what  would you say at the morning assembly if you are, without any previous notice, asked to give a short exhortation to fellow students on moral issues? Secondly, how are you likely to contribute to class discussions or class presentations? These might be occasions for you to display your ability to speak eloquently or display your level of education. Thirdly, what about discussions with tutors or management of the school?

3. Improvement of Vocabulary. To improve and display the quality of your education you need to improve/increase your vocabulary, learn the art of public speaking, know the rules of public debate and of pidgin English which is now very common in Nigeria.One way to improve your vocabulary is to read novels, magazines and newspapers. The frequent use of dictionaries and thesauruses need to be emphasized too. A novel summary scheme based on an efficient use of a good library or membership of one such as  the LAGOS BOOKS CLUB will be helpful. (PREMIUM SERVICES)

4. Listening in class. You also need to cultivate the habit of listening to your tutors and what they say. Apart from passing exams, your purpose is to get real education and the root of education is to be found in your listening habits. Experts have listed a ”listening habits inventory and listening facts” which Edupedia promised to make available to you in future.

5. Completion of Class Notebooks. Incomplete class notes, rough-looking notebooks, dirty notebooks  are danger signals that things are not going well with your studies. There are ways of taking notes to get you out of trouble which your school ought to teach you. I assume they must have but are you paying attention to notes completion sessions at all? There is a NOTES IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM  by Edupedia which i shall soon ask them to either teach you personally or  proposed to your school (if need be) (PREMIUM SERVICES)

6. Handwriting. It is surprising to note that the problem of many students can be traced to their handwriting or writing styles. Bad handwriting ultimately leads to spelling mistakes and unpleasant and sometimes annoying responses from tutors or examiners. You must therefore find ways to improve your handwriting. Writing styles are usually cultivated over a period of time.

7. Plan whatever you write. You must also learn how to plan your writing long before the examination days, write your first draft, then revise and edit what you have written. You must learn the art of developing words into sentences then into paragraphs and then into essays, stories, articles or poems. You must also learn how to write research reports, lesson notes, etc. Edupedia can also provide additional and more detailed guidance on this. (PREMIUM SERVICES)

8. Master your spelling demons to be a better and stylish writer.

9.Assignments/Study Techniques/Red Notes & Salvation Lines. You need to master the techniques of study and doing assignments. You must make some effort at improving your concentration when reading and you should find a way to jog your memory later about what you have read. To do this, two techniques called Red Notes and Salvation Lines can also be provided by Edupedia which you might find very useful. (PREMIUM SERVICES).After mastering study techniques a good student must also spend some time in mastering various examination (internal and external) techniques which can be useful in the exam hall. Spend some time to ponder on the write-ups of techniques being provided free of charge by Edupedia on this forum. Red notes, I am told, are convertible to Salvation lines when exam draw near. And from what I gathered, students need no longer feel the need for examination malpractices during school and national exams especially if Edupedia is allowed to provide them Weekend Comprehensive Mentoring Services. (PREMIUM SERVICES)

10.School survival tools. You may also wish to ask yourself what tools a good student must have in order to survive school. See a list  we have provided for reference below. 

11. Computer/Web Studies You also need to show more interest in computer/web studies. Why? There is more education now on science, technology, finance, economics, life-skills etc on the web than anywhere else in the world. The internet is now the biggest school/classroom that ever existed.

12. A 7- Day Personal Time Table .Which will include a Personal Study Plan and School Time Table (Time Management Chart). Edupedia can provide further guidance on this. (PREMIUM SERVICES)

TOOLS FOR ACADEMIC SURVIVAL IN A SECONDARY SCHOOL

a.Textbooks / Writing Material / Maths Set / Exercise Book / Drawing Books / Science Or Practical Note Books/ Assignment Note Books /Red Notes Book And Salvation Lines Note Book / Maths Continuous Practice Notebook / Remedial Studies Note Book / Novel Summary Note Book.(PREMIUM SERVICES)

b. A file containing all your past examination and test scripts with their past question papers for future reference.

c.. Different write-ups prepared  on Study and Examination techniques by your school.

d.. Frequent use of your school library or  or a reputable external library like the LAGOS BOOKS CLUB.

e. Use  Encyclopedia Britannica CDs, related subject software available in the markets and frequent reference to educational Websites such as How to Study. Org.

Your mother,siblings and I pray each day for your success in school towards becoming a responsible citizen of our fatherland. By God’s grace you shall be part of the new crop of intelligent hard-working youth Nigeria is empowering to give us a better image in all nations on this planet. Please face your studies seriously and revert back to me as soon as you can on any of the issues raised above. God bless you.

Your father.