Chrisland Schools – High Standard Amidst Expansion

By Charles Ogwo

In the educational sector, it is usually rare to see a private institution duplicating its success across academic levels and in many locations over the last four decades. Maintaining standards is a very difficult challenge for school proprietors. Yet one strong brand in the sector has demonstrated this with relative ease.

Location and History: Chrisland School Lagos was founded by High Chief (Dr.) Mrs. Winifred Awosika (OON) in 1977 in Ikeja, Lagos. This acorn seed has grown to become big oak tree, which now incorporates nursery/primary, secondary and after-secondary schools in nine (9) locations in Lagos and Abuja and a university in Ogun State. Yet, each Chrisland School is the epitome of high quality education. The secondary arm was first established in 1987 at Idimu, a suburb of Lagos.

Philosophy: Chrisland has as its vision- the provision of all-round quality education, at all levels, to children for the realization of their maximum self-discovery and development in life by paying personal attention to each child in the three basic areas of learning – cognitive, affective and psychomotor. The ultimate aim is to nurture children that would grow up to be responsible and responsive individuals.

Type and Curriculum: Chrisland Schools run a broad and balanced curriculum of Nigerian and British Curricular for its different academic levels: private crèche, nursery, primary, secondary, pre-degree (6^th form) and university.

Curriculum Development in Chrisland is a dynamic process that is always based on the results, findings, outcomes and suggestions of action research projects.

This is designed to be in tune with 21^st century learning of inspiring learners to be adaptable and flexible. The curriculum is consistent with the needs of students in Nigeria and the broader international society as it prepares to create their own future by making them masters of their environments, no matter how highly competitive this might be; and be able to adapt to the needs of the society.

Differences in the children’s strengths, experiences, interests and needs (challenges) are taken into consideration to enable each of them reach his/her potentials. Chrisland gives each child every support needed in the regular class activities and through extra remedial support and intervention as required. Students are involved actively in the execution of the curriculum.

With the importance placed on turning out holistic/total children, emphasis is given to co-curricular activities with excellent facilities and classes for music, sporting, leadership opportunities, debates and quizzes and a whole lot of other activities, all designed to make students confident and independent.

There are continuous assessments and systematic evaluations based on data and time-lines. Students, themselves, are responsible for periodic self assessments and peer evaluations, with focus on academic standards and outcomes. Chrisland Secondary Schools’ teachers implement effective feedback mechanisms and adjust their teaching strategies, taking into account assessment results and the development, and self esteem of students.

Chrisland prepares candidates for the May/June and October/November diet of Cambridge International AS and A Level Examinations (CIE). The school runs both the traditional two years Advanced Level programme and the one year accelerated Advanced Level programme. The second option may only be available to students who have demonstrated a strong faculty and ability to cope by reason of an aptitude test.

The CIE provides an excellent preparation for university education and is a qualification globally recognised and accepted for universities admission. It gives students a competitive edge over their contemporaries.

Extra curricular activities in the school include French or foreign languages, Inter-House Sports, Special Music and Drama Classes, Ballet, Quiz/Debate/Spelling Bee, Entrepreneur, Scrabble, Chess, Debate/Press, JETS, Art and Craft, Colour Days, Costume Days, Swimming , Taekwondo, Karate and Kung-fu.

Chrisland has a policy of employing only qualified and experienced educators who are ‘facilitators of learning, providers of learning opportunities, evaluators of learning, assessors of progress, reflexive educational professionals, and inspirational leaders.’

Facilities in Chrisland: Each Chrisland institution is a safe, healthy, happy, creative, inspiring and secured environment with excellent academic and co-curricular activities. These include cozy classrooms with interactive whiteboards, good multipurpose hall, standard ICT centre, standard library, standard laboratory, and sick bay. Chrisland Schools have bus services on selected Lagos routes.

In 2017, an ultra-modern, high-performance sports centre was commissioned at Chrisland College Idimu, Lagos State. The multi-million naira complex parades state-of-the-art sports equipment and facilities including a fully equipped gymnasium, two five-aside AstroTurf pitches, three standard basketball courts, a 25-metre tournament swimming pool, nine-lane ultra-modern athletics tartan tracks, standard volleyball court, 15-metre training swimming pool, standard football pitch and standard tennis court.
Achievements: Students of the Chrisland schools have made great academic achievements in internal and external examinations and competitions over the years. Recent ones include: 2016- AISEN Volleyball Competition in the Senior Girls Category; ‘Loya Swim Meet’, a 10-school Loya Milk Swimming Competition; Junior category of the Lagos (Southern Nigeria) Zone of the National History Competition with 80 points; TSL International Schools Essay/ Debate competition in Dubai; and South Western Zone Nigeria Regionals of the International Geography Olympiad; 2017 – Prose Category of Teeks Annual Writing/Literary Competition.

SCHOOL DETAILS:

Name: Chrisland Educational System (Infant, Nursery and Primary School)

Locations: