It is imperative for schools to prioritise the safety of their students and create policies towards strengthening security, the Principal of Atlantic Hall School,Epe, Dr Terry Howard, has said.
According to him, there are security concerns all over the world, hence, school boards have to look at policies and measures to keep students safe.
He said security issues in schools create doubts in the heart of parents and they could decide to take their wards elsewhere.
“Schools have to do everything to keep students happy and healthy so that they can keep on operating.
The teachers need to know what they need to do to keep their students safe.
And our school is not different in that. We have our policies and procedures on security. Our school campus is safe as possible. We have not had any security issues that I am aware of,” he said.
The widely-travelled administrator noted that he was determined to improve the overall quality of education in the school, not only in academics but also in extra-curriculum activities.
Howard, who was recently appointed, wants to make academic programmes attractive for students and impact them socially.
He noted that the school has zero tolerance for bullying, adding that its anti-bullying campaign and sensitisation is effective.
He said: “The school’s board has zero tolerance for bullying. Any kid that is found bullying, we don’t keep up with that. We try to give such the needed help to stop. But if they are not able to stop it, they are no match for our school.
“One unique thing about the school is opportunity for counseling. If the children have something bothering them, they have the counseling staff that can attend to them. In addition to the counseling, we do anti-bullying campaigns. The anti- bullying week is coming soon when we come back from the half term break. Students will be involved.”
The new helmsman, who wants to deploy his wealth of experience to take the school to greater heights, said students are taught sound moral values and made to grow spiritually.
He said the school’s robust vocational training would enable students have practical experience to build their skill sets and make them marketable.He said students are well supervised.
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Howard hailed students for being receptive and staff for their support and being amenable to change. He said he had not experienced any untoward thing despite the alleged negative perception about the country.
The Principal stressed the need for a hybrid mode of learning, adding that online learning opportunities in the school enable students to learn wherever they may be.
He said with modern teaching equipment and we’ll trained staff, students perform well and stand out among their peers.
On other school activities,he said: “We have got great extra-curricular programmes. Students are allowed to take ownership of their own extra-curricular activities and interest.
Options include various clubs and activities that expand their knowledge base in many ways outside the classroom. Sporting options are plentiful to build their athletic skills.”
We also have a number of international trips that our students are involved in each year. This gives them opportunity to go different places around the world.”
Howard also stated that teachers are given support to learn new approaches to improve their teaching skills.
“We incorporated technologies in the school. We have smart boards in the classrooms to enable teachers access the internet to do innovative things they could not do in the days before technology,” he said.
On other opportunities for students,he said: “The school provides the IGCSE programme for students to take courses and external exams related to that. It has also introduced the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) which is a Canadian-based programme students can tap into for additional advanced learning opportunities.
Parents who are considering having their wards go to university in Canada can register for the OSSD programme, when students are ready to leave secondary school for university, they are already registered as official students within the Canadian system which makes their entry into Canada much easier.”
Howard said the school inspires independence, self-reliance, and higher-level thinking skills to prepare students for future success.