Principal, Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Benin City, Mrs. Aghedo Osamudiamen, has charged parents to encourage their children to read instead of giving them phones, as the school examination questions and answers are not found on the internet.
She commended Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, who is an old girl of the college, for unwavering supports for the school.
Also, Mrs. Aghedo warned that that henceforth any student who inflicts injury on another would be sent away from the school until the injured child returns to school and the case addressed by the School Based Management Committee.
The principal advised parents to dress decently while visiting their children in the college or be prepared to be denied access to them.
She said this while speaking at the college Annual General Meeting of Parents, Teachers Association, PTA, meeting, held in the school premises, last month.
The educator however congratulated the parents for ensuring that their children were in school while others have dropped out of school due to the economic situation in the country.
“You know that of recent the school dropout has increased because of the economic situation in the country. So, I want to congratulate you for being able to maintain your wards in school despite the challenges,” she stated.
Mrs. Aghedo, while acknowledging efforts of dedicated teachers in the school, revealed that students of FGGC, Benin City, have track records of academic excellence in various examinations and competitions.
She disclosed that some students of the college are currently studying abroad after they excelled in scholarship examinations.
“Some were given cash, laptops; these go to show the efforts that teachers are putting. We have dedicated teachers, and teachers that know what they are doing, and we also supervise the teaching and learning in the school including the prep.
“The last WAEC, NECO and BECE results can attest to the overall performance of our students. Some of the ways to sustain and improve on this are to say thank you to the teachers and encourage the students to read.
“I want to thank God for the First Lady Mrs. Betsy Obaseki that put solar streetlights on road to the school, even inside the hostels. So, there is no hiding place for those who don’t want to read,” the Principal explained.
She appealed to parents to always talk to their children about their academics, aside given them food whenever they visit them in school.
The dean also called on parents to partner with the school authorities in the fight against examination malpractice, as giving students phone to take to school doesn’t amount to helping them.
“Please parents, when you come to see your children talk to them concerning their academics and the need to defend whatever they have. There are some graduates that cannot defend their certificates, they are not employable.
“We don’t encourage examination malpractice here, as parents too, please join us in this fight. Giving them cellphones and be waiting for the questions to enter, you are not helping them, instead tell them to read, they are all intelligent students,”she noted.
The Principal further stated that any acts of violence by student against his or her fellow student and improper dressing of students and their visiting parents would be rebuffed by the school authorities, henceforth.
“The rule is, you injured a student and that child is taking away from school for treatment, you have no right to remain in school while the child is away. So if that child is away for one month, two months or four, you too will be away until the child returns and the School Based Management Committee decides the case.
“Some of these new students you give them uniforms they will go and start adjusting them and some parents help them to do it. There is a rule that our students must dress properly, they are girls.
Parents, I am sorry to say this, I am going to give instruction to the security men, any parent that comes to school and not properly dressed will be sent back,” she assured.
She however expressed appreciation to the school PTA and its executive led by the chairman, Pastor Kingsley Daniel, as well as the Old Girls Association for being dependable supports to the college.
The parents applauded the school principal just as they described as most welcome her style of managing the school.
High point of the event was presentation of award of excellence to the principal and some deserving teachers by the PTA executive.
