By Elizabeth Osayande, LAGOS

The President, Dansol High School, Ikeja, Lagos, Mrs Adun Akinyemiju, has called on government at all levels to support private school owners because the schools are also helping to train young Nigerians who will also contribute to the growth of the country.

She said government can do this by giving out loans at low rates to school owners among other incentives.

She stated this during the celebration of the 28th Founder’s Day of the school.

This is just as the school showed appreciation to staff who have spent 10 years in the school and the reward of winners of the school’s president essay competition, both in the junior and senior classes.

“We give widows a 10 percent tuition fee rebate, those that have three children get some school fee percentage slash. In Agidingbi, we give a scholarship to a child every year, and in any session, you have six children from Agidingbi on tuition-free education. We also have a child of a missionary, not paying fees.

“You would understand that running a school like Dansol is expensive as technology is key. Focus on skill acquisition, leadership, sports and getting good teachers who are paid well, and the cost of power generation are some of the features that make our school, a fee-paying one.

“So, the government needs to give private schools interventions. In South Africa, whether you are running a Muslim or Christian school, you are given support by the government. Because they know that the private schools are helping them. They support the payment of teachers’ salaries.

“We will be happy if the government of Nigeria can do like South Africa, or support private primary schools with loans at a reduced rate. Imagine, everything I built here was at over 20 percent interest. Reduced interest rate and support to pay staff are areas government should look into for support of those running private schools,” Akinyemiju reiterated.

On events that heralded the Founder’s Day celebration, she explained that the achievements of the last 28 years called for celebration.
“As a school that started as a tutorial centre in 1993, which metamorphosised into a High School with four students on Wemco Road.

“Starting officially on January 24, 1996, after getting government approval, is a milestone. We now have over 800 students and 300 in the primary school, and a permanent site.”

Speaking further on what made the school exceptional, she noted: “That prioritising the welfare of staff, especially in the area of training and salary, the teaching methods, that included the personalised method of teaching, leadership, and discipline-for-life mentoring, and the successes of the school’s alumni, among others are the major milestones of the school.”

Meanwhile, staff with 10 years of service got N100,00, and N200,00 for those in senior classes.
Winners in the school’s president essay themed: “My blueprint to effect godly change that will make Nigeria ten times better in the next five years,” got the following prize awards.

The first position in JSS and SS classes got free tuition for the third term; the second position was half free tuition, and the third position, quarter free tuition for the third term.