Whitney Adeniran: The National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has called on school authorities to live up to expectations when taking students out for activities.
Adeolu Ogunbanjo, NAPTAN’s Deputy National President, disclosed this in an interview the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.
Ogunbanjo was reacting to the death of Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old student of Chrisland High School, Ikeja, on Feb. 9, during the school inter-house sports.
Ogunbanjo who described the incident as unfortunate urged the school to be more careful to avoid further dent to its image.
He said that students would want to explore environment but with adequate measures and necessary arrangement on ground, the management would be able to stand to the challenges of taking them out.
“I sincerely condole with the parents of late Whitney Adeniran, it was a heartbreaking news that such a promising 12-year-old girl is dead, may her soul rest in peace.
“Precautionary measure is very fundamental, if only the school management had taken such by positioning supervisors as guards at exit gates, maybe the unfortunate incident would have been avoided.
“The necessary arrangement must capture eatable need such as food, snacks, drinks and water that the students will take during the event, by this, lots of eventuality will be curbed.
“And that is a lesson to others to be more vigilant and increase supervision to oversee movements and activities of students left under their care,” he added.
Ogunbanjo also enjoined parents to always caution and give instructions to their wards before they leave home to serve as a guide to their movements.
“They must be given specific instructions to follow school management’s directive, must not leave where peers are and if for any reason must take permission and be accompanied by a supervisor.
“We should note that students are under the watch and care of the school authority within school hours, hence, they should and are expected to give account of their movements or any development,” Ogunbanjo said.
He endorsed steps taken by the Lagos State Ministry of Education on the sad development by shutting down Ikeja branch of the school, while investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the death. (NAN)
