Fela Durotoye - Exam failure: Volunteer teachers could help turn the tide

Exam failure: Volunteer teachers could help turn the tide - FD

Project Raise One Million, an initiative of Visible Impact, envisioned by Fela Durotoye to ultimately raise one million students to pass JAMB UTME and WAEC is calling for volunteers to tutor students in Mathematics and English Language towards the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (JAMB UTME) and Senior School Certificate Examinations to hold in less than 38 days.

According to Durotoye, “volunteer teachers may be the only hope the students have to do well this year”. Though results from recent mock exams in many schools in Lagos State reveals a high level of failure with as low as 15% success rate, Nigeria’s foremost inspirational speaker and nation builder, believes that with the help of many more volunteer tutors, something can still be done to salvage the situation. Project Manager, Mikael Johnson who has already begun teaching Mathematics at Surulere Girls Secondary School also believes that there is still hope. According to him, “the students are very receptive and charged up to conquer their exams, but they need help”.

The team is therefore calling on interested volunteers to join the drive to get students prepared for the forthcoming exams. According to Johnson, “we have started several learning centres in District Four, helping students with basic topics. We are focused on the core subjects, English and Mathematics, and we need people who can help get these students ready”.

Johnson thanked the District Director of Schools and the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary for their vision and their endorsement of the project which has led to effective implementation of the project and the general acceptance of the project amongst Principals while team members, Olufemi Olumide (Resources Manager) and Toni Olumide (Project Spokesperson), also reiterate the dire need of volunteer tutors for Maths and English who will help these students succeed.

The learning centres include Surulere Girls Secondary School, Government College, Eric Moore School and other schools in District Four, Lagos State. The Fast Track Program will run for is an intensive 4 week period to get students ready for WAEC. The program basically focuses on taking the students through the past questions as there is limited time before the commencement of their examination. Program runs from March 9, 2010 to April 20, 2010. To volunteer as a tutor please go to www.projectraise.org, click on the Raise 1Million tab and go to the volunteer page or write to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Project Raise One Million, seeks to galvanise one million people who will help the students pass JAMB UTME with at least 200 points and earn 5 credits in WAEC including Mathematics and English in various support roles. The Project is presently working with Lagos State Education District IV as a pilot project. Other partners like the Ken Katas Youth Foundation have been running the project with about 1000 students from the East.