As part of the preparation to ensure that all senior secondary school (SSS 3) students of United Secondary School, Agugu excel in their West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examination Council Secondary School Certificate Examination (NECO SSCE), the alumni body of the school has complemented the efforts of the school’s management and staff in preparing the students for their 2024 external exams through the “2024 Tutoring Program’’.
Despite the improved learning environment at USSA associated with impactful projects undertaken by old students, the current students struggle academically, reflecting a number of economic and social challenges.
Against this background, a small group of Dr. Olumuyiwa Adedeji, Professor Francis Fasanu, Comrade Taiwo Salawu, Pastor Osuolale Peluola and Rasheed Ademola, with the support of a number of old students (particularly teachers) embarked on the journey of introducing a Tutoring Program at the USSA.
The 2024 edition of the Tutoring Program had many unique features. It was a collaborative effort, involving the old students, the management and staff of USSA. A total of sixty-five (65) SSS 3 students attended the program. Experienced teachers (10 old students and 9 current teachers of USSA) served as the tutors. The classes took place during the week (Monday-Thursday and Saturdays) and lasted for about 3 months. Students were provided with important learning materials (exercise books, pen, sharpener, calculator, dictionary and past questions) at zero cost. About N3.5 million was spent on this vital program.
The Principal of the school, Mr. Kamal Adio and the Vice Principal, Mrs. Omoyeni Abisoye, expressed their appreciation to the old students and encouraged the current students to work harder so as to be successful in life.
An alumnus of the school, Dr Olumuyiwa Adedeji while giving the brief analysis of the project on behalf of others said out of the 65 students who took part in the 2024 Tutoring Program, only 30 registered for 2024 WASSCE. He said the low turnout for WASSCE registration gave him the impression that not all students attending the Tutoring Program would be able to register for NECO SSCE due to financial constraints.
‘’Against this background, I reached out to a few family members, friends and colleagues of mine to assist. I was able to raise N1,265,000. Mr. Busari Maroof Olusegun (a member of the 1986 Set) provided additional financial support of N240,500. In total, the sum of N1,505,500 was available to financially support SSS3 students to register for the 2024 NECO SSCE’’.
Dr Adedeji said effective targeting and sustainability were major issues in a program of this nature and as a result, a decision was made that parents of the students should make half payments of the NECO registration fees while the remaining balance would be met out of the total pool of N1.5 million. ‘’We have provided financial support to 60 SSS3 students (54 at USSA and 6 at Community Secondary School (CSS)) to enable them to register for the 2024 NECO SSCE. We made half payments for 25 science students at USSA (N400,000); 13 commercial students (N188,500); 16 Art Students (N232,000). The total for USSA is N820,500. In the case of CSS, we made half payments for 4 Art/commercial students (N58,000); and 2 science students (N32,000). The total amount allocated to CSS was N90,000. The total for the two schools is N910,500’’.
The program has a balance/surplus of N595,000-which will be used to provide financial support to SSS3 students to register for WAEC/NECO in 2025.
Earlier, Dr Adedeji urged the students to always remember the roles their alma mater played as they prepare to transit to another stage in life. He tasked the Oyo State Government to consider paying for a certain percentage of the amount required to register for WASSCE/NECO SSCE in economically-disadvantaged areas. He recounted that it’s extremely difficult for a lot of parents in the Agugu/Idi-Obi area to afford the registration fees of about N30,000.
Professor Francis Fasanu in his brief speech commended the alumni body and everyone who played crucial roles for the success of the 2024 Tutoring Program. He called on the students to utilize the opportunity made available to them through sacrifices of the alumni body and others. He appreciated the school management led by the Principal, Mr Adio Kamal on behalf of the association for the support and cooperation towards the success of the 2024 Tutoring Program.
Also speaking at the event, the Coordinator of the 2024 Tutoring Program, Comrade Taiwo Salawu appreciated the synergy between alumni body and school management. He thanked those working day and night to ensure that entire students of USSA excel in the future.
