Matilda Omonaiye/
Executive members of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Air Force Secondary School (AFSS), Ikeja, Lagos, have told NewsmakersNG why the school’s commandant ordered students to be flogged by soldiers on January 22.
Following an emergency meeting where the matter was discussed by the PTA on January 29, a communique was issued to address all the issues raised, decisions reached and the way forward mapped out by the authorities.
NewsmakersNG learnt that the Commandant, Group Captain Babatunde Oguntunde and his students have settled their differences after the meeting, which according to the PTA was the largest attended meeting in recent times.
Here’s the full content of the communique sent to NewsmakersNG:
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE PARENTS/TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AFTER ITS EMERGENCY MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020
After an emergency meeting of the PTA of the Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos, the following communique has been issued to address the matters that necessitated the emergency meeting.
THE ISSUES AT HAND:
The Chairman, Mr. Ayoola Badejo, presented the issues that brought about the Emergency meeting as follows:
Emerging pattern of gross indiscipline amongst senior students of the school.
Few students showing traits of being members of an emerging cult group called “the Marlians”.
The Marlians have characteristics that include – a. Must be a drop out of school; b. no use of belts; c. No wearing of pants and bras on specific days of the week; d. No respect for adults or age; amongst others.
Several complaints of excessive canning of students as punishment for misconduct by students.
Publication of distorted facts of the said punishment of students as a result of misconduct on social media and newspapers.
Give opportunity to parents to express their misgivings or otherwise at a properly constituted PTA meeting for group resolution on the way forward.
Any other matter ancillary to these main issues.
COMMUNIQUE:
After exhaustive discussions on the issues listed above, the following communique was issued by the PTA of Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos.
The AFSS, Ikeja remains a secondary school of excellence amongst its peers.
The issue of discipline must remain a key element of building up the children and preparing them for their future.
The school’s authority must refrain from meting out excessive punishment to students, especially excessive canning to correct misdemeanour and infractions of the rules and the regulations of the school by students.
In the instance of what happened in the school the previous week, it was agreed that the canning was excessive.
It was established that no sick student was canned during the exercise.
Agreed that parents need to pay more attention to their children as the children spend more time with their parents than in school.
The meeting condemned in no certain terms the parents that sponsored the publication of distorted facts on social media and newspapers of the incident that happened in the school.
The school management was mandated to do everything possible to ensure students do not become members of the Marlians group as stated.
Students’ misbehaviour should be brought to the attention of parents by the school before things get out of hand.
The house commended the Commandant for sponsoring the Commandant’s examinations in English and mathematics for the examination classes at his own expense.
The house agreed that the Commandant is the father of all the students in the school.
Parents who sponsored the postings on social media were enjoined to go back to undo what they have already done, i.e to restore the image of the school.
Parents agreed to pay more attention to their children, as it takes two to tango and train up these children.
The Commandant apologized to the parents and gave the assurance that such will not happen again.
The school’s counselling unit should be more involved in helping the children turn a new leaf.
It was noted that the students at a meeting they initiated with the Commandant apologized to the Commandant for their misbehaviour and thus reconciled with the Commandant.
The meeting also agreed that parents should deploy all internal channels to resolve any issue that may arise in the future rather than run to the press and be destructive.
The house appreciated the turn-out of members as one of the largest attended meetings in recent times.
Thank you very much and God bless.
Signed:
ONOH CELINE AYOOLA BADEJO
Secretary Chairman