Education & Schooling

SCHOOL/ Willy (Nigeria): our students compete with the rich schools

Redazione

martedì 10 gennaio 2012

"After a decade of work, 100% of the girls, as well as the boys, are able to continue on to secondary school. We started to help them learn the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic to arrive today at a level where they can compete with the students of the best schools in Lagos, those schools that require high fees”. This is the statement by John Williams, the Head of the schools of AVSI (Association of Volunteers in International Service) in Nigeria. Williams tells ilsussidiario.net how the schools are growing in the place in which they operate. They are places of meeting and formation, representing an outstanding example in the country of meetings between young Catholics, animists and Muslims. They are places in which the AVSI workers are concerned about not only the education of pupils in primary and secondary schools, but also the training of teachers and the construction of educational programs with parents. This attention to the whole person has generated significant results, as well as building up a bond of trust with the various local communities.

Willy, since when have you been involved as the responsible of the schools of AVSI in Nigeria? Do you also teach? How did you get to know AVSI?
I have been involved with AVSI activities since 1998. I followed the work of the SS. Peter and Paul school at Ikate Waterside and later (1999) joined to lead the work of The Seed Remedial School in Ilasan Estate where St. Kizito Clinic is situated. I taught chemistry (high school), integrated science (junior high school) and Religion. Now, as the head of St. John School, Oreta, Ikorodu, I teach Religion.
I met AVSI through a friendship that developed with friends of the Communion and Liberation Movement in Lagos, Nigeria. This was in 1997/1998.

Can you explain what exactly you do with regards to education?
As the head teacher of the St. John School, I plan and oversee the implementation of the activities of the school following the method of education of AVSI and The Seed.
With the teachers, we work to educate the children to be responsible persons. It is my responsibility to propose and implement the training and development of the teachers.
As it relates to parents, I work with them in an educative way towards realizing the proper growth and development of our children towards becoming who they ought to be.

Are there Muslims and other non-Catholics in AVSI’s schools? Are the schools open to everyone?
There are many Catholic Christian children in the school. There are also many non-Catholic Christian children, as well as animists and many Muslim children in AVSI schools. The school is open to everybody, including the employment of capable non-Catholic and Muslim staff members.

In the sphere of education, what is the relationship between AVSI and the Nigerian authorities? Is there collaboration and do they support your schools?

The relationship with the Nigerian Education Authorities is cordial from our part. Though there is room for a lot of improvement on how the education authorities view and work with non-state entities like us. However, we have shown ourselves to be able to maintain a good relationship with them for the sake of what we stand for: the education of our children and the future of our country. We hope and desire richer and better collaboration and support from the authorities.

What results has your education project achieved since you have been a part of it? What story can you tell? What is your perspective on the future?
If I recall well my early days in the AVSI school, no female pupil graduated from the last class of primary school because either they were stopped by their parents to assist them in their businesses or they were given away in marriage. Over a decade down the road, we now have 100% of the female children progressing to secondary schools. The same 100% record applies to the male graduates of the school.
We started from the point of helping them to achieve basic literacy and numeracy to the point where they are now competing with other very good, high-brow, high fee paying schools in Lagos State.
We cannot leave out the issue of the increased level of trust that has been generated from the relationship between the fishermen and AVSI and its schools. The Egun fishermen now appreciate the value of education more than ever before. They have become more collaborative with us and our work with them.
It is the same with the neighbouring communities, whose confidence and patronage we have earned and won with time.
We are working hard to improve the quality of the educational content of the school through the twinning with the La Nave School, Forli. We plan the continuous re-training of the teachers in both general and specific topics. We plan to reach out to more communities around us to further the relationship between us and also guarantee the survival and sustenance of the school.

What did you gain personally from these activities? Are the sacrifices and difficulties worth it?
I have gained a lot from these activities. Firstly, I have been helped to discover myself more: my joys, my passions, my fears and worries, even my hopes and desires. I have learnt to be open, to be simple and most importantly, to be myself. I have learnt to be grateful for every second and every aspect of reality I encounter. A lot of sacrifices have been made by me. Looking back, I can say they have been worth it.

Is there a message that you would like to send to people around the world, to increase support for your work?

There is definitely a message. It is a message of gratitude to each and every one who has, and is still contributing to the education of each of our children and also supporting the running of the schools. I speak for myself, the teachers, the children and the parents of our schools.
I am aware, to some extent, of the sacrifices individuals and groups make to keep our children in school and supported. I wish to assure you all that your efforts are not in vain.

In this particular situation of Christians in Nigeria, do you think you will increase your work? What is the spirit of the Christians in these days?
There is tension in the land. With the activities of Islamic extremism in the north and middle belt of Nigeria, a situation of insecurity and fear has been created in the country generally. Christians are at the receiving end. The Christian leadership in the country has expressed their lack of confidence in the government despite being headed by a Christian whose hands are tied politically.
Education has a huge role to play in the resolution of the present challenges being faced. This is a call to us to double our effort within our area of work and to reach out to support others who are working in the areas where conflict exist like the ones in Taraba State in the middle belt.
Christians have been very patient. They are really restraining themselves from taking up arms in retaliation but it is clear, from the Pentecostals’ viewpoint, that it should be an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth which is not a view supported by the Catholic church in Nigeria.

Did you change anything after the bomb on Christmas? Has the threat of fundamentalism forced some Christians to leave the North? Are you in contact with them and are you organizing some help for them?
Some of my friends are still there but highly limited in terms of movement and doing business in those places where they have been staying for a long time. However, there are many others who have moved away from the very volatile areas to other parts of the country or are presently living in police and military barracks for safety. I am not personally organising any help for them but we are in touch, giving encouragement.
For me, after the bomb blast, I have learnt to ask myself deeper questions as to the meaning of these actions, the meaning of my faith and my person and how my desires and needs can be a source of richness to others. This is a work that I am doing personally and with friends.