‘Why schools should prioritise teachers’ welfare, development’

Executive Director, Greensprings Schools, Mrs. Lai Koiki, has advised school owners and managers to see teachers’ welfare, growth and continuous progression as a necessity, saying it is critical to achieving the vision and goals of education.

Koiki gave the advice at the formal unveiling of the Greensprings School, Ikoyi campus, which has commenced academic activities for the 2018/2019 academic year. It will cater for preschool and elementary school children between ages 2 and 10.

According to her, teachers are the drivers of every meaningful development in schools. No matter the quality of the contents, the facilities and other academic programmes, if the teachers are not well motivated to resourcefully impart learners, the overall aim of schooling would be defeated.“From inception, we realised that teachers’ welfare and progression is vital and we have been doing our best in that regard. School managers should understand that teachers are critical stakeholders in school business and therefore should strive to help them thrive in their career. We have members of staff that have been with us for over 33 years, obviously they are well remunerated, but beyond that because money is not everything, the environment of being appreciated, being loved and given opportunity to grow your talent as individuals goes along way and this has kept them.

“We are child-centred school, we are the first thinking school in West Africa and what does that mean, there is a revolution and movement now in the world that you need to challenge your thinking, because the world around us is changing, education too has to change because we are preparing the children for the world we do not know. And so, we will continue to upgrade our facilities, the training of teachers so that they can fit into that world and be able to prepare learners. She assured that the new school, which commenced with 48 pupils will work in synergy with all the existing campuses as they all have a common goal.

“The number of pupils we have within three weeks is a testament to the brand itself, we are optimistic we continue to grow as the months advances. However, we will continue to improve on learning experience we give to the children as new innovations come.”

Secondary School Principal, Anthony campus, Magdalene Okrikri, who has been with the school for 26 years, said encouraging environment has brought her thus far.“My being here is the fact that the environment provides opportunity for continuous development, there is always a new challenge that you want to up your game and be able to live up to it.That continuous professional development opportunity has helped to keep changing the game every time.”