PDAC Foundation Urges Schools to Prioritise Life Skills Over Examination Performance

Foundation for the Personal Development of African Children has faulted the emphasis on academic performance and examinations in conventional education, calling for greater attention to life skills and personal development among pupils.

The organisation said children needed more than classroom instruction and examination preparation to thrive, stressing the importance of equipping them with emotional intelligence, financial literacy, leadership skills, goal-setting abilities and positive habits.

The Executive Director of PDAC Foundation, Ogochukwu Ogbueli, stated this as the organisation marked its fifth anniversary with outreach programmes in public junior and senior secondary schools in Surulere, Lagos, where it engaged more than 1,500 students.

Ogbueli said the foundation was established in November 2021 to address what it identified as a gap in children’s development, particularly the limited attention given to helping them understand themselves, set goals, manage their emotions and develop leadership abilities.

‎Ogbueli said, “Traditional education often focuses on academic performance, leaving a crucial gap in life skills and personal development. Over the past five years, our mission has been simple yet urgent: to inspire African children to discover, develop and unleash their God-given potential,” she said.

‎”By integrating personal development, emotional intelligence, financial literacy, and digital resources directly into children’s lives, the non-profit is reshaping how the next generation learns, leads, and excels.”

‎The organisation said it was entering its next operational phase with a target of reaching and equipping one million African children by 2030.

‎It called on corporate organisations, educational institutions, donors and other stakeholders to partner with it to expand its programmes across the continent.

‎”As it enters its next operational chapter, PDAC Foundation has set an ambitious target to reach and equip one million African children by 2030,” he said.

‎During the anniversary outreach, volunteers engaged students on personal development, emotional resilience and intentional habit-building.

‎The foundation also distributed educational resources and personal development toolkits to support their growth.

‎The organisation said its interventions were designed to complement formal education by providing children with skills and guidance needed for personal, academic and social development.

‎Highlighting the impact of its mentorship programme, the foundation cited the experience of a secondary school student in Surulere, Aminat Adeyinka, whose academic performance reportedly improved after she began attending its Transformation Centre, a children’s library and mentorship facility established with grant support from the Ford Foundation.

‎According to the organisation, Adeyinka’s overall academic score rose from 59.2 per cent to 81.3 per cent within one academic term, while her class position improved from 25th to sixth.

‎It added that she was subsequently appointed library prefect at the beginning of the current school year.

‎Adeyinka said access to mentorship, personal development books and guidance on time management and goal-setting had changed her approach to learning.

‎”Before coming to the Centre, I didn’t think I could excel. Having someone believe in me and teach me how to manage my time and set goals changed everything,” she said.

‎The foundation also highlighted the experience of a young participant in South Africa, Noluthando Mahlobo, who reportedly applied lessons from its summer boot camp to organise her ideas and publish a book titled NoluGrow – Grow It Natural, focusing on gardening and food security.

‎Reviewing its five-year activities, PDAC Foundation said it had distributed more than 83,000 printed personal development books and learning resources across 33 states through its Gift a Book initiative.

‎It also said it had established Leadership and Personal Development Clubs in public primary, junior and senior secondary schools in Lagos and other locations, alongside capacity-building programmes for parents and teachers.