It was all red at Mary Virginia Nursery and Primary School Iriebe in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State last Friday as Archdeacon Brown Education Centre (ABEC), organised a one-day Unity Day/ Christmas Carnival Carol in Nativity Play, 2013.
The event was colourful in every standard and well attended by parents, guardians and invited guests who were treated to intelligent and inspiring presentations by children and pupils of the schools. It was the end of the term/year activity of the schools.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Dame Christie Toby, academic and administrative staff, pupils and students of the schools rolled out the drums to showcase how far they have positively impacted on the lives of the young ones and to thank God for preserving their lives and those of their parents in 2013 and also to pray for the years ahead.
Dame Toby equally used the occasion to give account of what the schools have been doing in the past years, even as she explained what informed the event.
“We have so many reasons to thank God this year and we are confident that He will continue to uphold us throughout this year and the years ahead. We thank God for His presence among us, especially in all we do and the excellent performances of our children in local, national and international examinations.
“At Christmas time, we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace. Jesus took our place to give us His peace. Christmas is the season for peace. Jesus came to break the cycle of sin and blame by reconciling us with God by shedding His blood on the Cross of Calvary.
“When we live in peace with God, we will be eager to make peace with our fellow mankind. Let us try to give and receive the gift of peace this Christmas,” she said.
She also explained why she is investing on the ‘rejected’ of the society through the special/inclusive education.
She said: “I believe in the saying that in Africa, there is no idiot. There may be slow learners. No doubt, we should give them a chance by giving them the right environment. Through this, we will get them there.”
She, however, expressed regrets that some parents still lock up or hide their children and wards that have one form of challenge or the other, when they could give them a chance acquire education.
The chairman Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of Mary Virginia Nursery and Primary School, Dr Victor Okoro expressed his satisfaction over the standard of education in ABEC Schools and the level of knowledge being impacted in the children.
“It is a thing of joy seeing these children’s performances today. When I look at these schools and what they have, I think above the sky is their limit; because these reminds me very well of my background at Government College Umuahia.
“When I see what they are doing, it is of very high standard and compares to what we were having in those days in government special schools,” he said.
Former Deputy Governor of Rivers State and husband of ABEC’s Chief Executive, Sir Gabriel T. Toby, said: “Our aim and vision is that the Nigerian child should be given the best in education. They should be made to be independent. There should be no reason for any sorting. There should be no reason for mal-administration in education. So, the children that passed through these schools are confident in themselves. But more importantly, we want them to be spiritually good. We want them not just to grow in knowledge but also in character, founded in Christ.
“To us, this aspect is important because we believe that education without foundation in Christ will be meaningless. This is what drove us into this. Very importantly, we are not into this venture to make money; looking at the facilities we have and what we accept to raise these children.
“The issue is, let the children get good and quality education; let the parents get the good of the best. We thank God that all the children that have passed through this school are getting admissions and excelling all over the World. They are making first-class in all their schools in the United Kingdom, Ghana and the United States, among others. This shows the quality of education we impart in the children.”
Sir Toby, as he is fondly called proffered solution on how standard of education in the country and state could be raised.
“I think Governor Chibuike Amaechi has started very well in terms of structures. The environments of these newly built schools are conducive to teaching and learning.
“To have environment that is conducive to teaching and learning is good for both the teachers and students. It is the first thing to be done. The other thing is equipment. We have visited some of the schools. The equipment are right. Then you have to train the teachers and let them get committed. If you have good environment and the facilities to enable teaching and learning to be easy; with right and adequate instructional materials, there is no reason the children will not do well.
“The issue now is the sustainability of this policy and also making sure that those who get into that system don’t get into it to make money and go away; but they get into it for the passion and the love they have for the children they teach,” he said.
Also speaking, the Administrative Manager of Schools, Ifeoma Eucharia Alio, told the Niger Delta Report their motivations in impacting the right knowledge in the children.
She said: “The first motivation in giving our best to the children is that our pay is very high. As you know, when they pay you well as a teacher, you won’t look back; you will put in your best.
“Apart from this, there are some fringe benefits teachers and workers in the school enjoy. These make it both difficult for us to leave or think of leaving the school. Instead, we think of ways to improve on our jobs so that we could be retained.”
