As the project Lead of the SSLAG (Safe Schools Lagos) project, we cannot ignore commenting on the Chrisland School Lagos, trending news.
Here are some issues involved:
- The Girl’s Age and Class.
10 year olds should be in year 5, not JSS2. She is probably in a class with 13 to 15 year olds. This means growing up faster than her age. Most of what she would hear and see her friends doing is not mature for her. This is one of the fall outs of what we are left with in this country when we keep pushing under aged children hastily ahead in education. I keep wondering why the rush? what is the rush for? As there are usually huge consequences which may affect the child’s mental health. There are psychosocial implications of children mingling with older aged children especially when they are in the pre-puberty stage.
2. The School Management
The School management too, have their faults. They should not have lodged under-age students in hotel rooms without all round adult-supervision. Come to think of it, they should have been in a hostel or self-catering facility with a temporary house master and mistress. Did they conduct appropriate risk assessments before the trip was taken? these are some of the concerns that colleagues on the Safe Schools, Lagos Implementation team have been discussing since the news broke out. Number 6 of SSLAG 12 Minimum Standards for the management of safety in schools tackled this issue. (see below):
3.Lack Of Guidelines For School Activities
Prior to the 11th of April 2022 when the Lagos state government thankfully flagged off SSLAG, there was no regulation or guidelines. This is a societal fall out as there is a lack of specific guidelines for schools to follow when planning off site activities.
Conclusion
The good news for Lagosians, is that SSLAG (Safe Schools Lagos) was launched just last week, specifically on April 11, 2022. There are 12 minimum standards for schools and 8 for Schools’ Hostels; item 6 of the 12 Min. standards for schools focuses on off-site activities such as trips and excursions. Before now school trips were grossly unregulated.
Urging all parents of school aged children to get involved with SSLAG. Parents have an obligation to protect their children’s well being in all activities (Educational learning, Fun and Religious).
These are some of the ways you can get involved:
Enquire in your children’s schools documentary evidence of the school involvement with SSLAG this can be:
- Certificates of participation of members of school staff in conferences organised by SSLAG.
- SSLAG operation license for schools,
- SSLAG compliance insurance and so on.
- Parents must insist that their children’s schools show their beacon of safety award rating which is the ‘Mark of School Safety Quality” in Lagos state as of September 1, 2022. As a parent you must contact the Project Lead sslag@schoolrun.com.ng or you may contact the compliance lead Ms Miju Oladele schoolsafety@schoolrun.com.ng
Are you passionate about safety in schools? Contact the Lagos state commission on Imojola@lagosstate.gov.ng Block 18b, 2nd Floor Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja. Support SSLAG!
…creating a safety culture and compliance
#SSLAG #safeschoollagos. #BeaconofSafety #BOS
