Proprietor urges good education, sound cultural values for children

Chairman, governing board of Stella Maris Schools, Abuja, Mrs. Afoma Onyeanusi, has reiterated the need for parents to avail their children sound education and good cultural values.

Onyeanusi, who spoke at the 20th anniversary of the school, said both should take preeminence in the development of children, as this would make them useful ambassadors of their fatherland.

The chairman who said, “We are from different backgrounds, which affect our dressing, greeting, feeding, marriage, dancing and other aspects of life,” noted that it was imperative for parents to teach their children their “dialect for easy communication at home and identification, anywhere and anytime. Allow them to mingle with people from different cultures to make them complete Nigerians.”

According to Onyeanusi, “Culture has formed part of our class activities, as it is reflected positively in our teaching and learning processes. It is important because it can bring people together and you can learn how other people in different cultures live their lives.”

Since its inception, the school has witnessed immense development, which the chairman said was as a result of hard work, team spirit, discipline and focus that existed among the founders and pioneer staff members.

Managing director of the schools, Emeka Anyaene, disclosed plans by the school’s management to establish a standard institution of higher learning in the future.

Anyaene said having contributed immensely to the development of the education sector at the lower level, it became important to consider extending the good work to the tertiary level.

The school, which started with 14 pupils, now has 2,250 pupils. It is currently rated as third-best in Abuja; and one of Nigeria’s top 50 in the 2015 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). It is also rated Best Private School in the FCT.

It would be recalled that last year, the school emerged winner in the Junior Engineering Technicians and Scientists (JET) competition organised for private and public schools in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).