UNIT ACTIVITIES ARE CAPABLE OF ADDRESSING DECLINING MEMBERSHIP GROWTH
ALT IS NOT AN ADVANCEMENT TO WOOD-BADGE
Lagos , Nigeria
The National Headquarters Commissioners for Sea Scouts in the Scout Association Of Nigeria Raji Bomodeoku and his counterpart in the youth Program, Kenneth Geoffrey
Has asked State Councils to emulate the development model of the Lagos State Scout Council . They gave this charge while speaking during the ongoing statewide first class course for young scouts in the State. The Headquarter Commissioners spoke at St . Patrick Primary School , Ikoga , Badagry and Eleja Primary School , Itire Ikate , both venues of the state wide First class course for Zone 2 and 3 respectively .
Speaking during a presentation on Scouting set up at World Regional & National Levels . The Seascout Chief who was addressing participants added that Lagos State Scout Council had remained a vital component over the years with huge market share and commitment to Scouting and organizational development in the NSO . He was quoted to have said while several states have maintained notable strides to grow in line with the peculiarities in their respective environment , a significant number of states remained visibly at the bottom of the pyramid with low scouting market share. He further examined the declining numbers at the grassroot stressing the need for other states to step up effort to respond to the growth challenges bedeviling the Association.
The rate at which the membership numbers are shrinking is alarming . We have seen some significant declines in the numbers of unit activities said Raji while fielding questions from participants . I did a sampling of my area where I spent most part of my formative years , over 21 Scout units are no longer active in the District with a population strength of 3,600 uniformed and non- invested scouts between 2020- 2023 . He continued adding that the situation is almost same in several other areas . Raji and Kenneth , both former District Scout Commissioners for neighboring Amuwo Odofin and Ajeromi Ifelodun in Lagos attributed the declines to the changing social conditions and inadequate youth program dynamics to respond to new needs of young people and adult . Kenneth who was speaking on ICT in Scouting stressed the need to embrace ICT in making the youth program more attractive . He explained the benefits of digital scout events such as Jamboree on the Internet , scout .org among others .
Raji added that the growing numbers of unwilling unit leaders coupled with the changing conditions have exercebated the concern on declining numbers . He was quoted to have said that the unit progression system for boys is also underutilized as most young people now terminate active unit membership after high school or when in the University . He called on the state councils to respond to the remarkable brain drain caused by a great deal of “unserviceable” trained unit leaders lying fallow across the country . Trainers and designers of unit leader progressive scheme are expected to bring needs and resources together said Raji while appealing to trainers at all levels to address the challenge. He questioned why we have to invest in Basic Training Courses when the participants are not ready or able to take up unit responsibility or implement the knowledge as active members of a unit . For instance , graduating unit leaders from BTCs are expected to take entry level role as assistant scout leader on probation. This has not been the narrative. The National Commissioners called on state councils to emulate the footprint in Lagos as guide towards addressing the declining numbers in their councils. They further identified the Lagos model citing some essential elements currently influencing the growth in Lagos State .
They added that growth is not only numbers but numbers make the best measurement. Other vital components seen in Lagos include :
Active Youth involvement -Adult support -Grassroot mobilization -Conscious succession planning -Scouting Marketing/promotion –Government involvement- Effective leadership and Strong institution have been the foundation for the sustained progress in Lagos State .
Speaking further on the in-balance in the ratio of unit leaders to scouts . Kenneth attributed this to some misconception and brain drain caused by inactive unit leaders and Adult’s unwillingness to connect with a unit as mentor who can motivate and guide their activities. Raji explained that while the Adult in Scouting Policy gives great flexibility to NSOs to design their adult leaders scheme to meet local needs. An assessment of the adult resources management shows that most adults do no longer have direct connection to scouting development at the grassroot unless when attending executive meetings or invited as instructors at training camps. He further stressed the need to connect un- retired adult leaders to support scouting growth in their locality .
Speaking further on the popular belief that ALT and LT was the goal for all Scouts and peharps
an end point for learning .
Raji added that against this popular belief which makes most young leaders see advancing from wood badge to LT as the most important achievement to reach some important milestone in Scouting. The World Adult in Scouting policy describes the roles undertaken by adult as commissioners, administrators and unit leaders . Raji argued that ALT was not an advancement to the woodbadge . He stated that although the wood badge was required to participate in the ALT training, it was not desirable that Scouters without interest in taking up trainer’s job participate in the ALT/LT training . He clarified further positing that ALT & LT are the two stages in the training of trainers scheme. The scheme is designed to develop Leaders identified with potentials to train Unit Leaders. He was quoted to have said “ALT is not an advancement to the wood badge of course, in fact , not all Leaders can train adult. It’s however desired that participant possess wood badge before taking up training” . Unlike other trainings designed with content to detail scouting in totality, the Assistant Leader Trainer course teaches course design and methodology.
You can compare this to the teacher’s training . Not everybody would choose to become a teacher after high school because it’s a noble profession meant for those with the potentials of impacting knowledge . Look at the certification process to become a teacher including the TRCN specified exams , that is what being ALT or LT equals in Scouting. It is the point where you have to support training research , development and design , content digitization , facilitation and instruction .
The leader trainer’s scheme is not intended to produce more superior leaders but adult with ability to train unit leaders who are referred to as “Trainers” . He continued adding that the woodbadge is the highest award a scout can receive . There is a need to educate ourselves about this to help leaders see the development of young people as priority against acquiring the trainer’s beads .
The Headquarters Commissioners concluded by thanking the Organizers of the training and the Lagos State Scout Council , whilst calling on other states to emulate the developmental strides in the state .
