Each school term at AIFA Reading Society means book club sessions with secondary students. We introduced short stories to our students this academic term to strengthen their critical and analytical thinking skills. Below are the schools that participated in this term’s book club session.
AIFA Book Club with Eko Akete Junior and Senior Secondary School
AIFA Reading Society in collaboration with Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, held a joint Book Club session with the students at Eko Akete Junior and Senior Grammar School, Lagos Island, Lagos. As part of our collaborative effort with Shell Nigeria, the book club session was held on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, to promote a reading culture and increase literacy among secondary school students. The students’ reviewed books donated by Shell Nigeria to the school library.
AIFA Book Club with Victoria Island Senior Secondary School and Okesuna Senior Secondary School
On Tuesday, June 27, and Wednesday, July 5, 2023, the Society organized reading sessions for Victoria Island Secondary School and Okesuna Secondary School, respectively. In both schools, students read and discussed Sandra Cisnero’s short story, “Eleven.” The story details Rachel’s eleventh birthday experience. In addition to being accused of owning a red sweater on her birthday, Rachel was forced to wear it by her teacher.
Her inability to defend herself made her wish she was older so she could defend herself in front of the accusers. The students from both schools took time to analyse the themes highlighted by the author and agreed that there is an interplay between age and authority. They also argued that Rachel should have insisted that the sweater wasn’t hers and then advised that everyone, both young and old, should speak up for themselves when the need arises.
At the end of the session, the students appreciated AIFA Reading Society and looked forward to the next book club session.
