‘Proper Research Must be Conducted on Schools Abroad’
Funmi Ogundare
The Sales Director, Abbey DLD Group of Colleges, Mr. Charles Johnson, has appealed to parents to ensure that they conduct a proper research as to the type of sixth form college they want their children to attend, saying that once such schools are not prepared to share the basic things one needs to know through their website, then they have something to hide.
Johnson, who made this known recently while briefing journalists in Lagos, said parents should also make efforts to check the calibre of teaching that would go a long way in impacting their lives.
“Parents need to check the destination and the calibre of teaching, if the child is not happy about the school, then you may find out that he/she is not working hard. Parents need to check out for the university website, for instance, if there are 150 universities in the UK, is the university they are looking for the 149 position? If so you might simply go. They have to make sure that the school will deliver some sort of quality.”
He stated that they also have to look for the kind of institution that produces students that can compete globally, adding, “you want your child to study in a place where you have some element of your culture and the people you know are there.”
Asked if his college has link with the British Council, Johnson said the council ensures that IGSCE is done in a proper manner and that there is proper standisation of the examination.
The Student Admissions Manager, Africa, Mr. Muazu Jalalude, who highlighted the challenges faced in the Nigerian education system said, “Nigerian education system with time has deteriorated that is why parents who can afford prefer to send their children to study in the UK for the stipulated year.”
On the yardstick for scholarship, he said students must have excellent performance as an incentive procedure, adding, “we can give them discount and we have a payment plan for them.”
He said some schools in Nigeria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with colleges in the UK to run foundation programmes, adding that such partnership will be a form of investment for them and to Nigeria.