Lagos State House of Assembly member Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa Constituency 02, has emphasized the importance of parental supervision over children’s social media usage in light of recent high failure rates in public exams such as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Yishawu made this statement during the 12th edition of his annual free JAMB form distribution event held in Ikoyi-Obalende. He expressed concern over the 75 percent failure rate in this year’s JAMB exams and urged parents to take a proactive role in monitoring their children’s social media activity to prevent academic distractions.
“Parents need to ensure that social media does not undermine their children’s academic performance,” Yishawu said. “Proper monitoring is crucial to keeping children focused on their studies and avoiding the pitfalls of digital distractions.”
As chair of the House Committee on Waterfront Infrastructure, Yishawu also reflected on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning patterns, which has increased online engagement but also potential distractions.
He reaffirmed his commitment to education by providing 1,000 free JAMB forms annually to assist young people in gaining admission to higher education. This year’s distribution marks the 12th consecutive year of this initiative.
Beneficiaries of the free forms, including Salami Oluwatoyin and Okoro Chukwuma, expressed their appreciation and hope for improved results. Oluwatoyin’s mother, Mrs. Bose, was initially skeptical but found the initiative genuine. Another parent, Mr. Adeola Ekemode, echoed the call for limiting social media use and focusing on skill acquisition for future success.
