Leading NGO VolunteerCorps is collaborating with the Government of the State of Osun to provide intensive coaching classes to students in Basic 12 (SS3) in public schools across the 31 Local Government Areas of the State from November 18, 2016. The goal is to improve the performance of State of Osun students in public examinations and build on the improvement in 2016, following five years of dismal results.

The volunteer coaching programme is borne out of concern with the unimpressive performance of Osun State students in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the last five years despite efforts by the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to improve the sector.

The VolunteerCorps programme will draw on the goodwill and concern of citizens who volunteer to teach specific subjects or general life application subjects. It would also call on the goodwill and participation of teachers in the State of Osun school system following the approval of the State Government.

VolunteerCorps has established a command centre in the state capital Osogbo and is in the process of rolling out one coaching centre in each LGA.

The Deputy Governor of the State of Osun, Iyaafin Grace LaoyeTomori, leads the government team supporting the VolunteerCorps initiative.

One of the critical success factors of the initiative is assembling a pool of volunteers who will be trained to coach the students in Mathematics, English and Life Skills. VolunteerCorps asks prospective volunteer teachers to sign up at its website volunteercorps.org.

VolunteerCorps is a voluntary organisation established in 1992 by a group of Nigerians who believe in the concept of giving back to society. The agency is fully locally funded, with seasoned, accomplished and credible individuals as Board Members. On the Board of VolunteerCorps are Sir Demola Aladekomo, Prof. Ibidapo-Obe, Mr. Tosin Awosika, Mr. Femi Williams, Mr.Tunji Gafar, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo and Mrs. Yinka Ogunde. VolunteerCorps has no political affiliations.

VolunteerCorps’ Founder, Sir Demola Aladekomo, declared in a statement that the long-term purpose of the project is to get the State of Osun back on the map regarding superior academic performance and secure the future of the youth in the state. He stated: “We at VolunteerCorps share with the Government and people of the State of Osun concern over the poor results despite improved infrastructure. We call on people of goodwill everywhere with the skill and availability to join us assist the State Government and the educational system.”

Aladekomo said Volunteercorps hopes that supplementation by external facilitators would impress on the students the significance of the lessons from their teachers and have a positive impact on their attitudes and efforts.

•Photo shows VolunteerCorps’ Founder, Sir Demola Aladekomo.

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