Some Abuja Archdiocesan Catholic priests organised a back-to-school retreat to equip secondary school students in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, with academic success strategies and character-building skills.
An educational psychologist and therapist, Reverend Father Pascal Nwoko, flagged-off the maiden edition of the retreat at St Donald Catholic Church in Karu FHA, Abuja, Monday.
Nwoko said the week-long retreat, holding from September 1 to 6, would take place at St Donald Catholic Church Karu, Church of Assumption Asokoro and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Galadima.
He explained that the retreat is a holistic development to equip students ahead of the new school academic session in September.
Nwoko said the initiative was in recognition of the complex challenges faced by students during resumption.
“Many students grapple with academic pressure, peer comparison, identity struggles and emotional stress, and these issues often hinder academic performance and spiritual growth.
“This retreat seeks to prepare them mentally, spiritually and academically as they begin a new academic year and foster resilience, goal setting, success and accountability.
“The initiative also aims not only to prepare students academically, but to anchor them psycho-spiritually for holistic growth,” he said.
Nwoko said the retreat is focused on five pillars; goal setting, success strategies, mentorship, psychological coping skills and spiritual anchoring.
This, he said will nurture resilient, goal-driven, emotionally healthy and spiritually grounded students.
He disclosed that the programme is open to teenagers from JSS1 to SS3 across the FCT and is not limited to Catholic children and wards alone.
Nwoko said a follow-up programme is underway to monitor student’s academic progression, character development and for parental and guardians involvement.
According to him, this would ensure resilience and accountability before, during and after the academic session.
Also speaking, a clinical psychologist, Reverend Father Felix Ilemona highlighted the psychological benefits of such retreats, adding that it would help students manage stress and develop healthier attitude toward learning and personal growth.
“This retreat provides teenagers with coping strategies for academic pressure, enhances emotional stability and promotes confidence in handling personal and social challenges.
“Practical guidance on psychological coping skills will also also provided to help students manage peer pressure and other challenges of adolescence,” he said.
In his goodwill message, a bioethicist psychologist, Reverend Father Joseph Obada said the retreat would help students develop ethical values and sound judgment.
According to him, combining bioethics with psychology equips teenagers to make responsible choices in academics, relationship and everyday life.
A parent whose child was a participant at the retreat expressed appreciation to the Catholic Church for the initiative to mentally, academically and spiritually prepare teenagers for the new academic session across schools.
The parent described the programme as timely and one that would help students develop good habits and face the new school term with confidence. (NAN)
