=By our correspondent=

The Floral Schools, comprised of nursery, primary and college, have elected new prefects and class representatives for the 2018/2019 academic year.

 Speaking at the swearing-in programme, the Proprietress, Mrs. Kemi Bamidele said that the event is an opportunity to see that the children are exposed early in life into leadership position, adding that parents should assist their wards in embracing quality leadership.

 She said, “What we are doing today is not ordinary. It is time to see the children appointed early in life. Parents should teach them to be good leaders and let them see what it entails to be a good leader. Let them come to school on time, do the right thing at the right time and we shall see them in greater heights in life.”

 In her speech, the Head Teacher, Nursery, Mrs. Tayo Taiwo explained that aside academic qualification, the school also looked at some qualities before choosing the class representatives and electing the prefects.  She said the school teaches leadership and character building and called on parents to help the pupils and students grow better daily in good leadership qualities.

 “Aside academics, we look at character and we want them to know that personality is important and that they are not ordinary. We saw some qualities like patience, tolerance, leadership roles before choosing them and we want parents to please maintain those qualities.

 “We see the stars in them and as parents, let’s nurture them, teach them the word of God, pray for them and pray with them. Teach them to obey authority, parents and teachers. Children, you are going places in life,” she said.

Also contributing, Head Teacher, Primary, Mr. Femi Roberts told the children that leadership position is not part of the fundamental human rights but that they must earn it. “Leadership position is not your right, you must earn it. You must learn to be responsible aside academic prowess”, he noted, charging them to behave and conduct themselves in a manner to meet up the expectation of their appointment and election as class captains and school prefects, respectively, and that the leadership qualities they possess should be manifested beyond the school environment.

 Similarly, the Chairman of the Election Committee, Mr. Sunday Bankole declared that the election was free and fair. He said the children campaigned and presented their manifestos before emerging winners in respective positions.

 “These children are great. What we are doing today is not just fun, parents should guide the children. We had ballot boxes and papers for the elections, the pupils voted and we have the results. There was a rerun for two candidates and this also helped the pupils in understanding leadership.  You should not be angry if you do not win the post you vied for, but every one of you is a winner and you all are prefects,” he said.

 Barrister Olufemi Abodunde, who conducted the swearing-in exercise, the urged the elected prefects to be consistent and have sense of duty.

 Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the prefects in the primary section, the Head Boy, Romilogo Falobi, thanked the teachers and parents for their supports and the pupils for believing in them. “I want to thank my parents for their support. I thank my teachers for teaching me leadership. And on behalf of other prefects, I thank the pupils for voting for us. We will do our best to make the school better”, he said.