Deji Elumoye
8 January 2008
Lagos — Lagos State Government has identified economic recession, negative changes in social and cultural values, coupled with poor life-style within the family circle as some of the factors contributing to the falling standard of education in the state.
Addressing participants during a one-day workshop on the "Complementary role of school social work in the educational setting," the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adebisi Sosan, said these pathetic developments have increased the number of students at risk in the
schools.
Sosan, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth, Sports and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Badru, stated that risk factors ranging from pre-natal, biological to poor environmental conditions have all combined to affect many of the students.
As a result of these, she said, many of the students were either not doing well academically, have become cult members or have even dropped out of school.
"It is obvious that any pupil or student passing through emotional, physical or psychological disturbance may no have enough resistance to withstand the pressure of being involve in truanting from school, stealing, drug use/abuse, prostitution, armed robbery and other social vices."
She disclosed that the state government would, as a matter of deliberate policy extend school social work to educational institutions in order to curb the hydra-headed social problems affecting the students in their academic work.
"School social work would be given a boost and prominence by expanding the service with adequate financial, man and material resources."
According to her, school social work would help the school to carry out its teaching and learning in ways that contribute to knowledge with the main objective of grooming the leaders of tomorrow for tomorrow's challenges.
In his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele, who was represented by the Director of Social Welfare Department, Mr. Remi Jaiyesimi had solicited for the support of Sosan for the extension of the school social work to those that are not currently enjoying the service.
He said the proposed extension should be backed up with conducive office accommodation, equipment, furniture and utility vehicles for the use of social workers.
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