What next, as Sito Gbethrome Sec. Sch. gets fences after 40 years.

The height of students abduction in the country, and the desire to boost security of lives of students, may have necessitated the construction of Sito Gbethrome Secondary School fences, which land size is sure to be a contender of largest secondary school in the whole of Lagos.

Since founding the school in September 1980, the premises have been left exposed and free to all users both within and outside the community. This singular act of no fences in the past years, has caused the school, several losses. In the 90s, attempts were made to fence the school with barbed wires. But activities of local thieves and armed robbers, saw the wires rolled off gradually till it became widely opened. 

After then, Several letters were written, visitation were made, including agitations from Old Students Association, led by the late Oke Jeremiah Sewanu were all futile. There were several intuitive definitions to why the school was not fenced, and being the only school in the entire Badagry or probably Lagos with such fate. The community residents, believed the land size was responsible for that,  while some also hinged on political games. But today, this definitions have become bygone.

 The project which is handled by Malevicma International Company. Limited, is expected to take six months for completion and handing over.

But what next after fences? 

The news of the fences is over and the in-thing,  is live after fences. SGSS, is still a school with many lacks. What baffles one is how the school has been marginalized on sharing formula in terms of everything good in Lagos State, and maybe there is any plan for the massive land size, spanning in the boundary area of two communities. 

Firstly, it is the only public Secondary School in Badagry and probably Lagos without a storey building. The large land have been taken over by predominance of busy, marshy, swampy, forest, tree plants and features. Despite the land size, only six buildings on one side of the premises including: offices, staff rooms, toilets, and labs were erected. 

All other ends left undeveloped have turned headquarters of reptiles of any kind including alligators and crocodiles. The most pressing need for SGSS right now, is more buildings and classrooms. It is the only school serving the entire communities from Gbaji to Seme Border in Badagry West. Hence, it is over crowded with students such that, one arm of a classroom has 97 students, spreading to H, as in JSS 1H. They all sit in the same class. How can they learn and assimilate? 

The population has therefore placed pressure on the resources which automatically reduce the lifespan of chairs, tables, academic materials, supplied by the government. 

Also, on the part of parents and discipline. SGSS is really known in Badagry for truancy and juvenile delinquency. Students are seen preparing to go to school at 10 a.m, or loitering in the community with folded books in school trousers, while shirts are removed in their school bags or replace with mufti. This has really dented the image of the school as a place for the bad boys. Parents should monitor their wards and government should allow more serious disciplinary measures, including flogging. 

To utilize the large land size, more developmental projects should be done like: construction of Library, building of school hall, computer center, school clinic, sporting arena, like an ultra modern mini stadium, cultural center or build more schools,  like the one of Tolu Complex in Ajegunle where several schools were built on the parcel of land. 

In the league of students academic competence in the state,  SGSS, cannot be compared with schools, like Lagos State Model College Kankon and Badagry Grammar School, which have both won every state Co-curricular competitions award: Essay, debate, quiz, spelling bee, mathematics competition, science projects, etc, including representing Nigeria at the international levels. 

However, SGSS is really a boozing school in terms of creative activities. No, other school in the axis, have their records of sport achievement, entertainment and cultural display.

This is to call all those who could help to make a difference in changing status and look of the school to wade in, while the new breeze of positive change should be felt by all.