Odita Sunday 
Lagos Geography Teachers Convene Conference to Reverse Declining Student Enrolment
By Odita Sunday
Geography teachers in Lagos State are set to convene a one-day conference aimed at addressing declining student enrolment in the subject and finding lasting solutions to challenges affecting its teaching and learning in senior secondary schools.
The maiden conference of the Association of Geography Teachers in Lagos will bring together teachers from public and private senior secondary schools to examine factors responsible for the declining interest in Geography and develop strategies to restore its relevance in the school curriculum.
The conference is themed,“Restoring the Teaching and Learning of Geography in Senior Secondary Schools in Lagos State: Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward.”
According to the organisers, Geography, once widely offered by secondary school students across the country, has gradually lost ground to emerging subjects and increasing competition from other elective science subjects.
They noted that the subject, which was previously popular among students, had shifted from being compulsory in some school settings to an elective, contributing to declining enrolment in schools where it is still offered.
The organisers also expressed concern that many private schools no longer offer Geography, while only a small number of students in science departments in some schools continue to choose the subject.
The trend, they said, has contributed to low student participation in both internal and external examinations, raising concerns about the future of Geography education.
They explained that the conference was conceived to reverse the decline and prevent the subject from losing further ground in secondary education.
The one-day event is expected to provide a platform for teachers to discuss challenges confronting the teaching and learning of Geography, share experiences and propose practical measures to improve student enrolment and academic performance.
The organisers expressed optimism that the engagement would strengthen Geography education in Lagos State by encouraging renewed interest in the subject, improving teaching methods and promoting better outcomes in examinations.
They urged stakeholders in education to support efforts to restore the place of Geography in senior secondary schools and ensure that students continue to benefit from its study.
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