Democratic Socialist Movement

For Struggle, Solidarity and Socialism in Nigeria

By - DSM

ERC FREE SUMMER LESSON: Ten Years of Its Consistency to Prove Free Quality Education Is Possible In


ERC FREE SUMMER LESSON: Ten Years of Its Consistency to Prove Free Quality Education Is Possible In Nigeria

By Osigwe Benjamin and Fidel Davynovich

The Education Right Campaign (ERC) as part of its campaign against the commercialization of public education has in the last ten years held an annual Free Summer Holiday Lesson (coaching) for senior secondary students in Ajegunle, one of the poorest communities in Lagos.

The ERC is a platform formed by Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) to campaign for free, quality and functional public education and respect for democratic rights of education workers and students. It has joined education workers and students in many struggles for improvement in condition and against neo-liberal capitalist attacks on education.

With the holiday lesson, which annually attracts students from poor and working class families, the ERC has proved to a large extent that free and quality education is possible in this country with its enormous resources but for anti-poor neo-liberal policies of the government at all levels.

The lesson will be held this year, 2014. We call all on students from Ajegunle community and environ to attend the lesson whose date and venue will be announced through fliers later. The last year edition lasted for 6 weeks with about 400 students and 30 volunteer teachers. It was rounded off with a symposium to enlighten and prepare students for the task of changing the society for the better while special guests and counselors visited the coaching from time to time to talk to students on career pursuit and other challenges of life. The lesson also helps discover or enhance the talents of students in various areas of literary work as it was shown last year with drama and poetry sessions by students at the closing ceremony.