A PERFECT SCORE.....5.00 CGPA

Reactions continue to stream for the amazing achievement of one University of Lagos soon to graduate student, Daniel Dada Ayodele, as he becomes the first student to graduate with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.00 in UNILAG, what the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Rahmon Bello, described as a “perfect score”.

Addressing a pre-convocation press conference at the university’s Senate Chamber on Wednesday, Prof. Bello said the Psychology student is one of the 178 First Class students ‎that would graduate during the three-day convocation programme. ‎

“This year, a record has been set. A graduating student in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Mr Ayodele Daniel Dada is graduating with a CGPA of 5.00.“A perfect score.

 This means he scored A’s in all courses he took in the programme. 'I congratulate the graduate with a First Class‎”, the elated VC said.

Hope his success takes him to greater heights....

WHEN YOUR CHILD REFUSES TO GO TO SCHOOL

Every day, all across the nation, as many as 1 in 4 children refuse to go to school. ‘School refusal’, formerly known as ‘school phobia’, is an actual anxiety-based disorder. Surprisingly, school refusal is more prevalent than some better known child disorders, but, because many children are vague in their complaints and unable to verbalize what's making them anxious, it's sometimes dismissed as typical childhood willfulness. However, the effects of recurring school refusal can be far-reaching for your child's education.

There is a subtle difference between school refusal and school refusal behavior. The child who ditches school to hang out with her friends is exhibiting school refusal behavior, which can be nothing more than a phase brought on by peer attitudes or a sense of rebellion. But the child, who clings to her mother's leg, screaming at the thought of having to enter the school building, is showing signs of school refusal, or "anxiety-based absenteeism."

However, the label doesn't matter nearly as much as getting a child back into the classroom. According to Maryann Roth, a school psychologist and guidance counselor, it's about "making sure the kid gets to school no matter how hard it is." Working closely with school officials and possibly a therapist to create a plan is a necessary step. Here are some key components to creating a successful plan:

·         Investigate what's going on at school. If it's an issue of bullying you need to find out what's really going on. Once you know whether your child's complaint is a valid one, it's easier to work with your child around the issue, both in and outside of school.

·         Coordinate with the school. You can't do it alone. Whether it's arranging to have someone meet you on the playground to escort your child into school or trying to ease the amount of makeup work. It’s crucial that the school plays a role in integrating your child into the classroom.

·         Set a baseline expectation. Having a child in school for any amount of time is better than having him at home. Though a child may only come to school for only an hour, or sit in the lobby all day, it’s a lot easier to get them back into the regular classroom from that point.

·         Make it less fun to be at home. If your child knows he can sit at home and play video games during the school day, the incentive to stay home is greater than the incentive to be at school. Create a contract, set some boundaries and make it more worth his while to go to school.

Your bottom line? Identify the issue, make a plan and stick to your guns. Once your child has overcome her fear of school, she will probably thank you.