village boy

We were young and lived in the city. Life was just what you'll call normal. It was the 70s/80s. We had school. Public pry schools had libraries, playgrounds, mid day exercises, debates, quiz sessions. 

Oh, every morning in school, we had the normal morning get together where the headmaster and teachers at the assembly will reel out goodies and punishments alike. These will come after the prayers, hymn singing and national anthem. All within 30mins. We will then match into our classrooms singing and merry. The day starts.  

It was competitive and healthy. We had to read wide. We had debates every Wednesday and Quiz sessions on Fridays. Just a local Authority pry sch. Can yu imagine? Twice a week, we had library sessions on the time table and we must pick a novel to finish and return the week after.  L.A school o.

So I got into Secondary school after 6yrs. A school run by Lagos State. We were 35 or so in the class. We paid 90 naira per session but had free midday meals. We enjoyed subsidised transport with the school buses taking students to different routes. 

We had societies where skills were further honed and again, the libraries were stocked. You must read. 

The annual Interhouse sports were so competitive, you would think we were preparing for the Olympics. Interhouse sports had all the athletics events. And the invitationals where various schools would be invited to the relay races. Then the foreign guys will serially toast and pick our fine gals. You have to be on guard if you have a babe with these relay guys.

Back to academics. It was WAEC grades 1,2,or 3. With grade 1, you are good to go but it was a matter of aggregates and so some grade 2s were cool.  Not sure why all these were cancelled. 

For fun nko at the secondary level, not sure a week went by that we had no invite for a relay race, a quiz show, a debating event, a cultural society show at the National Theatre etc. No. We were fully engaged. 

For schools that had no facilities for sports like basketball, handball, lawn tennis, badminton,  etc, we had to go to Rowe park or Stadium Hotel on Saturdays to train with coaches happy to help around.  It was a full package of academics, sports and leisure. All free. 

Continues.

Guest.