LAGOS – It is a different stroke to a different folk when examining the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The total and partial closure of schools that started 2020 owing to the COVID-19 lockdown has changed our school system, and has forced some children to become apprentices.
Many students on their own volitions and some by the order of their parents were drafted into vocational trainings with the sole aim of getting the children engaged productively at this era of the new normal.
The marriage that became a child of necessity after staying at home for months without doing anything due to outbreak and lockdown of COVID-19, still continues after the schools reopened.
For instance, in Lagos State, schools do not allow all the students to be in attendance at the same day of the week, it is now one day on and another day off. And, in Ogun State, junior classes go in the morning while the senior classes go in the afternoon.
The staggering or the new order is meant to keep social distancing that will help in curbing the spread of COVID-19. Consequently, many students have decided to use their free periods to continue in acquiring their vocational skills.
Oluwanifemi Oluwafunmilayo Akilapa, while sharing her story said: ‘’The name of my school is Iju Junior Grammar School. I am 14 and in JSS 3. The way we are going to school now is not regular like before and I don’t want to stay at home doing nothing. I think learn something is the best option. I joined on the 5th of August, 2020, having stayed at home doing nothing. Now I am proud of myself, I can sew and turn the machine very well, and is not affecting my study in any way.’’
But, to Quadri Adeodu, SS2 Art student of Community High School, Sango-Ota, Ogun State, it was his mummy who instructed him to be undergoing training in motorcycle repairing at Anisere area of Ota. ‘’My mummy ordered me to be learning auto mechanic not to be idle at home during the lockdown, and I have been doing it since then,’’ Adeodu said.
Aside these two children, Saturday INDEPENDENT visited and interacted with some other children in their different vocation centres in suburbs around Lagos and Ogun States.
