By Bon Peters
The Rivers state government has been commended for ensuring a high ethical and educational standard both in the primary and secondary schools.
This commendation came on the heels of the inauguration of the National proprietor- parent- Teacher Association (PPTA) last week by the Eggheads group of schools in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
Speaking to journalists on the sideline of the event, Prof Ezekiel Edem Williams, the Director of Eggheads International School stated that the standard of education in Rivers state is high and the school curriculum is planned such that both the pupils and students are well prepared for any academic challenges in the future.
Prof Williams, who was the former Chairman of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and former Chairman Association of National Accountants all in Rivers state maintained that the aim of forming the National proprietor – parent – Teacher Association is to have a synergy between the proprietors, parents and teachers to ensure that pupils and students are well trained even as he said it was obvious that government schools alone could not cater for all the educational needs of the children hence the private schools are handy to assist.
Prof Williams who traced the origin of Parent-teacher Association formation in 1897 to Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst, when it was regarded as the National Congress for Mothers, said the Association then was a strong voice which aimed at collaborating with teachers in the public schools to ensure students’ educational success and well-being but now, with the advent of private schools, there should be an avenue for partnership between the school owners, parents and teachers. Adding “It is to unify and solidify the relationship between the parents, proprietors and teachers to ensure that a healthy training ground is created” Even as he insisted that “when pupils and students were not well trained, and left behind, it becomes a challenge.”
Prof, Williams who also condemned the unwholesome act of some schools that aid and abate examination malpractice stated that such could not be entertained at Eggheads who operate on zero tolerance to examination malpractice insisted that the solution of the children education rests in the solution of the state and wondered why parents and some schools should cut conners to ensure that their children and students pass examinations through the back doors.
He said that “such schools have lost the concept of education”
On the suggestion for the unbonding of science subjects from Jss1 as canvassed by one of the parents, who opined such would earlier guide the student on his career path, Prof Williams said that such suggestion would not be in the interest of the students as according to him, the school curriculum in Rivers state is one of the best in Nigeria and the academic standard very high.
On State government intervention on secondary and primary schools especially with the proliferation of private schools, he said such intervention should be in the areas of good policy formation that would allow schools to thrive. He equally stated that other interventions should be on the qualification of teachers, good environment, security among others, saying any school that did not have such qualities mentioned above should not be allowed to operate even as he advocated periodic inspection on schools by appropriate authorities.
Also speaking, the administrator of the school, Beloveth EdemWilliams paid a glowing tribute to the teachers and parents who she said had contributed immensely to the success story of the school.
She noted that such collaboration ensured that the school won Silver medals in the Ultimate African Mathematics Olympiad, National English Olympiad among others.
She however advised that schools should desist from engaging unqualified teachers as such would be counterproductive hence according to her, teachers’ qualifications play a very important role in the standard of education and the students’ performance.
Some of the parents who spoke to our correspondent expressed their happiness on the moral and ethical standards being inculcated in their children and vowed to resist any form of temptation for examination malpractice even as they said they are advocates of hardwork, commitment, and perseverance for academic excellence.
The highpoint of the event was a seminar presentation with the title “The Aid Experience from Parent To child” presented by Anugua Meshale
Credit: Bon Peters, (Port Harcourt, Rivers State)