Director decries dearth of counsellors in schools

JULY 18, 2014  

The executive director, Ovie Brume Foundation, Mrs. Iwalola Akin Jimoh, has called for the reintroduction of Guidance and Counselling units in schools across the country.

Akin Jimoh made the call at a media parley on Wednesday in Lagos. According to her, social and behavioural orientation in schools is a crucial part of education.

‘When you go to many schools across the country, there is no guidance and counseling department. If you see any, then the counselor is also engaged in teaching. When pupils have issues at home or if a particular child is suddenly quiet, the counselor has the duty to attend to that pupil and get to the root of the matter. Counselors even go to the homes of the pupils.

“They are there to support the entire academic structure but that department no longer exists. These days, you see the civil society taking up that role. I think that is not good enough. If a child is on school from eight am to 2pm, it is easier for counselors to spot any problem than the civil society who spend just an hour with the pupils,’’ she said.

Akin-Jimoh added that since the establishment of OBF, about 3,000 less privileged pupils in public schools across the country have benefited from different skills and literacy programmes.

According to the executive director, OBF has provided scholarships, examination support, and other life skills such as Taekwando and dance classes, resume writing, sexuality education and others, free of charge since 2003. Iwalola added that summer programmes have seen pupils go on excursions, while some have been placed on internships.

Through the Project No Excuses, the Special Projects Manager, Ms. Christal Ogene said, 17 brilliant but indigent pupils in public schools are currently on OBF scholarship.

“Our scholarship covers not just examination fees for the pupils, but also nutritional support and a medical insurance for the recipients. We started that in 2012 and we have been able to reach 17 students.

“The nutritional support helps to supplement the dietary needs of the beneficiary and his or her family. The medical insurance helps to make sure that the beneficiary has access to medical services and the pupils are also taken out to buy street clothes at a cost of N12,000 per child. Within a year, the savings per child in each family is between N200,000 and N300,000,’’ she added.

Ogene enunciated that the OBF was established to propagate the ideals of Oviehire Brume, a Nigerian who died in his sleep at the age of 29. According to her, he had been a mentor to many young men who worked in his construction company.

However, Ogene has said funding remains a challenge for the Foundation. “Funding is a big challenge for us. The general perception is that profit organisations are avenue to make money. That is wrong. What we do is document our activities for the sake of credibility. While Ovie’s family has supported us, we also get donations of used furniture, power generators and other things to keep the Foundation running.’’

A scholarship recipient, Miss Esther Solomon, said OBF has helped her get good grades in Mathematics.” I used to be very poor in Maths, but when my friend told me about this Foudation, I asked for the permission of my parents to join. I started attending afternoon classes and now I have a good grade in the subject. I am also a scholarship recipient with skills in bead making and am computer literate,’’ she said.