Choose the right ‘A’ Level school

This week was the official reporting week for senior four students. A number of intrigues preceded the reporting date as there were mixed reactions to the national examinations that were released late last month. For the great achievers, it was a down slop because they got straight admissions to top government schools. Dismal achievers are still struggling to get admissions in any schools that will take them in. The process of school selection is a rigorous one. Interests of parents and students conflict and inflict each other. Ordinarily, people should be looking for schools with particular subject combinations that interest students. The subjects of interest and schools are inseparable. Look for both. You may get admission in a school with subject combinations you are looking for but what you shall have achieved is just a piece meal. A school with the right subjects may not necessarily deliver quality.Science schools should have well equipped science labs and qualified, competent and experienced science teachers. That has to be coupled with excellent academic programs and a serene school environment that encourages, develops, nurtures and exults learning above all other school interests. Art schools should have relevant and qualified staff. There has to be a well stocked library with a variety of relevant and up to date books for extensive reading. This leaves students with the task of performing well. Their input will determine their output. The popular saying that the sky is the limit does not have a blanket application. It can only be the limit for doable tasks. Students should take subjects they can manage within their maximum input. Choosing subjects because of prestige breeds frustration. Broad curriculums provide for the needs of every student. No student can be an absolute failure of an education system. The mentally gifted will always succeed in highly complex and abstract tasks while the average and below average students will always find a place in non-academic or semi- academic sphere. Wanting to belong to certain schools irrespective of their relevance to the needs of students is misleading. Start with what the student is interested in, then what he or she can do then apply for a place in a school that will direct them to their destination. znyamosi@yahoo.com