'Why Nigerians Abroad Are Sending Their Children Back Home To School'

Dolapo Fatoki, Head of School at Peaceville International Academy, Redemption Camp, Ogun State, has stated that Nigerian parents abroad are sending their children home for schooling to help them embrace and retain their cultural values.

She, however, expressed happiness that such needs are being met at Peaceville International Academy, which despite being faith-based, is global in nature and standards and could meet their expectations.

She stated this while fielding questions from journalists in the school premises.

“In most of the advanced nations, primary and secondary school education is free. So, if you now see Nigerians abroad, not minding that fact, and sending their children and wards back home to a place like our school, the motive behind such is to inculcate our cultural values and orientation in such children.

“Here at Peaceville International Academy, we have about seven per cent of our students coming from abroad. Although we started barely three years ago, our reputation has really spoken well about us. We not only take care of the emotional aspects of the lives of the students, we are concerned about their spiritual welfare too.

“Normally, a school of our size and standards would shy away from being faith-based because of the thinking that we must not offend some people, but our values are drawn from the Word of God and we are still very much global in standards.

“ On how we maintain discipline which some people say is lacking in some western societies, we make use of the Word of God. If a student misbehaves, we let him know what he has done wrong and we use God’s Word to correct him. Such a child would somehow reflect on what he has been told. On our part as teachers, we also show good examples in our conduct. We serve as good role models to the children,” she said.

Fatoki added that the school, which is one of the many institutions set up by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, has carved a niche for itself with top notch teaching and non-teaching staff as well as state-of-the-art facilities.

“We are a full boarding school for boys and girls and we give value for money and we are very much affordable. We also emphasise integrity, diligence, excellence and godliness in whatever we do. Apart from the serene and conducive environment, we have facilities on ground that can take over 1,100 students,” she said.

On the menace of bullying in schools, Fatoki explained that the school has an anti-bullying policy which parents, students and others subscribe to.

“We also educate our students on the difference between bantering and bullying. Sometimes, a person may be sharing some banters with another person and the latter may not like it and take offence. That may be seen as bullying by some people too,” she stressed.

On the criteria for admitting students, she said the management has had cause to turn down admission of some students because of reasons relating to indiscipline or bad behaviours from where such students were coming from.

“It is not all comers affair. We are tracking our growth rate and thank God that I also taught in Britain and have contacts in schools there and the United States. We do background checks on students and we don’t just admit anybody. We have our reputation and integrity to protect,” she added.