[BOOK REVIEW] A Handbook on Records Keeping in Primary and Secondary Schools

Book Cover

Title: “A Handbook on Records Keeping in Primary and Secondary Schools”

Author: Peter Nandi Bette

Printer:  Iykememo Productions, Enugu

Pages: 92

Reviewers:  Ita Akuku  &  Mike Udam

This work, “A Handbook on Record Keeping in Primary and Secondary Schools” is a simple down to earth book written specifically to fill the information gap in the area of School records keeping. According to the author, “it is not unusual to find Teachers who do not know how to keep a class Attendance Register and many others who may not have heard of some school records like the Admission Register”.

The book is a nourishing dish, compartmentalized into Statutory and Non statutory records. The Statutory records are Admission and Attendance Registers, Log Book, Note of Lessons Book, Visitors Book and Continuous Assessment Record. Non statutory record books include School Budget, Im[rest Accounts Book, Duty Rooster, School Calendar, Staff Minutes Book, School Inventory Book, Health/Hospital Book and Student Exit/Entry Book.

Mr Bette who had the instinctive option of choosing between Journalism and Education as a career, has done maximally well in the later where he spent his entire public service years. This assertion is proven by his rise to the very top before bowing out, haven administered Education creditably and successfully retired as a Director in the Quality Assurance Unit of the Cross River State Ministry of Education.

His sterling qualities as an astute Education Administrator attracted the attention of the authorities of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja who invited him in retirement to be Chairman of the nascent Diocesan Education Board, an assignment he is discharging till date.

In the Introduction, he makes a humble submission, “It is hoped that this Handbook will readily be a companion to all stakeholders in the primary and secondary schools sub-sector. It will also serve to refresh memories, retrain and assist in the effective running of the schools”.

The book “A Handbook on Records Keeping in Primary and Secondary Schools” could not have come at a better time than this, when all conscientious stakeholders in the realm of Education are concerned with happenings in all levels of the education system.  The book, a detailed exposition of the subject matter of School Records comes as a very important tool in the hands of every teacher in Nigeria.  It comes in a simple down to earth format. It is easy to comprehend and will help teachers deal with all kinds of records.

The Counsellor in Peter Nandi Bette propels him to delve into private audience with the reader. He, among several pieces of advice, encourages School Heads to try at all times to check the Attendance Registers and Note of Lessons. He decries the unwholesome practice of some teachers awarding arbitrary Continuous Assessment marks to students, a practice he refers to as “Blind Bombing”.

The major important feature of this Handbook is the clinical finish that the author blends his research material with firsthand experience in the presentation of his facts, borne out of his so many years in the field. His presentation is apt, devoid of circumlocution. The brevity of the chapters, simple sentences devoid of verbose diction will sustain the interest of any reader.

However, there is one School Record the author failed to capture in this Handbook – The Punishment Book. Research online indicate that this is one record book that keeps track of  all major punishment meted to erring learners in a School. While it seems the author may want to subsume it in the Log Book, one dare say that ha Punishment Book qualifies to stand on its own.

Also, evidence of a painstaking editing of the  work is seen in the only one noticeable error in chapter 4, subsection 4, page 28, line 5 of the last paragraph. It would have read thus: “….marked by a stroke from RIGHT to LEFT”, as rightly indicated by the slash in the bracket.

Be that as it may, the quality of the production of the work is commendable.  The size of the Handbook makes it easy to be carried about as the convenient companion of the Teacher thats it is supposed to be. The solid binding guarantees durability, while the bold font makes visibility strain less.

This Handbook is highly commended for all Education Administrators, Teachers and Student Teachers. The Cross River State Government should do a bulk purchase of this work and distribute to all teachers in primary and secondary schools. Private School owners should ensure their Teachers own copies of this Handbook.