You mentioned that Lagos
State Government is not trying to help students, why do you say that? Many
would tend to disagree you know?
Yes! But most of their
effort is counter-productive as sighted previously (May-June, 2015
Publication), because they deviated from the original plan. Now, they call it
reading time. That is the name given to the 2-4pm belt. Why not leave the
students once it is 2pm, since they cannot run the programme again. Let them
come to tutorial.
Can they be given an
hour break before going for extra classes or perhaps reading time?
The intention of
engaging these students within that period is good because these students are
lagging. They are not doing well. They need extra classes and there is nothing
bad if that extra class should be for final examination students only i.e. JSS3
and SS3 only. I believe even the SS2 should be allowed to go home and we should
concentrate only on SS3 students. A teacher who handles the morning class will
also be assigned to take the 2-4pm class which is supposed to be handled by
experts. What I mean is that, the extra class should be contracted to freelance
teachers with the mandate that if the students should fail, the contact will be
withdrawn from them. I’m sure the school teachers will sit up because if the
students fail, their contract will be withdrawn. Then questions will be raised
about the school teaschers who have six hours to teach these students. With
these the teachers will brace up. Most teachers remember to come to class with
the but forget their lesson note. All these can only happen in public schools
not in tutorial. Mind you, I’m not saying tutorial is the best. Tutorial is
designed to consolidate and it came on board as a result of poor teaching in
public schools. Since we’ve found ourselves in this situation, to proffer
solution is what we are concerned about and believe me we need to work with
good tutorial centers because there are bad eggs amongst us as well.
I mean in tutorial centers, and please I must also add that there are very good
teachers in public schools as well. I remember one Mr. Oye, who taught us
Chemistry when I was in secondary school. The man was very sound unfortunately
he was never rewarded for his good works. Same goes for many teachers out there
who are not rewarded for their struggle.
Do you subscribe to the
students starting tutorial class earlier irrespective of their class so that
they could have a firm foundation?
De Pathfinder started
like that by teaching in a Private school, called Olowu Private School as a
K.G. teacher, primary 3 and later primary 5 teacher. So I understand what you
mean. During our time in the seventies I know how we used to have what you call
‘lesson’ at a place called Aunty Fatimoh. We will carry our chair, slate and
chalk on our head to learn. That is the traditional way to learn. So, when I
started my tutorial center we had the primary section. Now, it seems Nursery and
Primary schools have been handed over to private schools by the government
while the government is concentrating on secondary school. Well, private
schools are out there to make more money by not releasing the children all in
the name of extra lessons. And parents like that because they just want
something that will keep the children busy and far from home since the parents
won’t be back home till 7pm. And they are less concerned about what happens
within the extra lesson period. Invariably, those children will be choked. When
they grow up they speak good English but write bad English. They lack practical
knowledge. At De Pathfinders we admit from JSS 1 to SS3 students. I have a very
well known person by the name Chinenye Ochuba, the winner of the most beautiful
girl in Nigeria immediately after Agbani Darego was my student and she was not
yet in University back then. She is just concluded her SS2 class then. During
one of her interviews; she was asked how she came about her good diction and
command in English language? She said it openly, thanks to Dotun of De
Pathfinders, the tutorial she attended. This lady was my student from JSS1.
What is your word of
advice for parents?
My advice to parents is
that they should take special care of their kids. Especially when it comes to
education. Look for a good tutorial center around your environment. The truth
is that school is not enough and the school lesson is a waste of time, money
and other resources. And that’s just the truth.
It seems you are veering
into politics, do you want to tell our readers how you intend to relate
politics and education?
During the last
election, I showed the man that won the election my programme for education. If
he could articulate it but I guess he had his own agenda for education. I must
add that I was going for the House of Representative simply for education.
Simply, because I’m very passionate about it. Education is life, when I look at
myself sometimes I say if I was not educated honestly I would be worse than
Shekau. My own case would have been more than those “bad boys”. I
know some of my friends who did not go to school at all I tell you my case
could have been more dangerous. So, we need to take education seriously. Every
year I give free GCE forms to those that can’t afford it. I don’t call them
“area boys” I call them “strong boys”. I go to under the bridge where they
stay, I give them the form, fill it properly and get them to attend lessons for
the subjects they filled freely without paying a dime. Two of such people are in
the University of Lagos studying Law. Before, when they see me and wanted to
greet me they would shout baba oh! And punch me. I met one of them recently and
I called him “Lanky”, he said baba no no no..he just gave me a hand shake. Look
at the miracle education has done. Money is not everything; you can imagine a
terrible area boy tormenting the entire neighbourhood becoming rich. That will
make him more terrible but you can imagine if along the line he gets educated,
he would not want to be perceived as an area boy and would manage the money
well. What actually motivated me into going into politics is education. If I
can get into the corridor of power my name will be written in the history book
in gold, because of what I will do in terms of education. Let me tell you, what
I have achieved in the past twenty years is not really about money. I really
thank God for everything for everything I got is through De Pathfinders
including my wife and by extension my children. Honestly, education is very
important. Thank God I’m in this job my students are all over the world. There
is no place I will go to that I will not see my students including outside
Nigeria and they are in top positions. I believe one day one of them will
become INEC chairman. They always say Pathfinder helped them. Most of them
don’t know my surname. They call me Dotun Pathfinders even my mother calls me
Pathfinder. And it is a good thing to bear a name with God because he is the
only Path-Finder. He creates way where there is no way. Amongst my colleagues
they made me the National President for Association of Tutorial Centers. We
think you must be a professor before you can proffer solution to the problem on
ground which is wrong. Prof. Oderinde of JAMB, we had confrontation some time
last year about some of my students’ results. I said in an interview on STV
that he called me a tout and he should know when I started dealing with JAMB in
their office since 1993 going there to buy forms. I’m sure he was still doing
his masters programme then. He was not a professor then thus he knew nothing
about JAMB. So, if I say that JAMB marked my students down, I really mean it.
Government should get the right people into the field not those that will be in
their offices playing with theories. Those who relate with the students
directly and are practical with their approach. The reality can be heard from
us and then they can use it to formulate their own policy to suit what’s on
ground. These students now are not ready to learn from any teacher that is a
dull or that is too much of a teacher. You have to be lively and as much blend
with them before they can listen to you. Today’s students love and listen to
music a lot. They don’t like a atmosphere. At times if I want to
capture their attention, I’ll start singing some of their favorite songs, we
then analyse the music or edit for improper grammar or blunders. I will then
put it to them that see the kind of music you are listening to. They’ll
suddenly give me the needed attention. There is certainly a lot of problem
facing our education sector that needs urgent solution. Well, if not, though
I’m not a prophet of doom but the whole system may collapse, if care is not
taken.
A radio veteran, Femi
Sowoolu once stated that there is an extinction of intelligence i.e. today’s
generation are no longer reading or truly developing themselves. Do you agree
with him?
Yes! There is no more
intelligent people again, no natural talent, no creativity.
Thank you!
