By Iyabo Adekunle
The history of Western education in Nigeria will not be complete without mentioning the pioneers like St Gregory College and Holy Child College Obalende.
St Gregory College, originally a coed campus before the creation of its sister school, Holy Child College Obalende, was established through the Catholic mission in 1928 and named after Pope St. Gregory the Great (540–604).
The early administrators of the mission schools were mainly clerics from Europe, who equally spread Christianity, while training the young Africans on how to succeed them.
Yes, the high standards and morals were maintained, which led to the production of Nigeria’s first generation administrators and politicians, who took over leadership after independence in 1960.
It was interesting to note that the successors of the early missionaries did not disappoint, as they maintained high standards.
However, decay set in when in the 1970s/80s, the Nigerian government took over the mission schools.
The change of baton from the early missionaries to the government came with huge challenges, which lowered standards.
Then it was pride to say ‘I am a teacher or student’ of any of the mission schools. But today, most students and teachers of the present mission schools are not happy.
Materialism has taken over the mission schools. The administrators are now more interested in high population of students than the staff welfare.
In St Gregory College, the few remaining teachers are in perpetual fear; none of them is sure of his employment the next minute. With poor salaries, parents now determine which teacher stays or sacked.
Cordial relationship, which benefitted the previous administrator, staff and students has become history, while dictatorship reigns.
With the era of “I can’t change my mind”, the administrator’s spies are having a field day.
With 25 staff sacked in the last three years, and many resigning their appointments, what is even happening in the school? A lady was recently sacked from the school because she was not always smiling with those close to “powers’’ and she died immediately of the shock. This is one in several cases. Who does the administrator report to? Who will check the administrator? Are the Old Boys aware of the reign of terror? Are they aware that only very bright students are pampered, in the name of high flyers/fathers club, while the average students are not allowed to be assisted by the teachers. If every teacher is driven away via one flimsy excuse; what will be the fate of the students and the school?
As a mission school, one expects to experience love of Christ and not the contrary.
Wake up Old Boys; wake up concerned parents. Our children deserve the best education as introduced by the European missionaries.
.Adekunle, an education consultant and school proprietor, wrote in from Abeokuta
