By Ayodeji Ayopo
When Malcom X said “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare it today”, he knew what he was saying. The foundation laid several years ago is now a befitting edifice of academic attainments.
Grace Schools (both primary and secondary arms) founded by the late Deaconess Grace Bisola Osinowo in 1994 is school with a remarkable difference. The founder, knowing the rare importance of education had to establish the secondary arm as the primary arm was founded in 1968.She defied all the odds to ensure she lives a worthy legacy by contributing her significant quota to educational development in Nigeria.
Today, Grace Schools stands tall amongst their peers as a reputable and dynamic citadel of learning. The school remains focused in providing qualitative educational service offerings to discerning students. The schools have over the years blazed the trail to remain a critical reference point in education.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Mrs Tokunbo Edun the Executive Director of Grace Schools located in Gbagada Lagos says the school has a strong focus in contributing its quota to the uplifttment of the society where it operates. Grace School according to demonstrates a social conscience by providing for the needs of the various schools and students it has over the years supported through its CSR initiatives.
Edun says the school is poised to support the government in improving the standard of Education in the country. This falls in line with its strategic vision to embark on initiatives to enhance quality standard of education. In her estimation, government cannot fun adequate education alone hence the need to support in terms of providing support for indigent students
Grace schools continues to provide annual educational scholarship to indigent students to enable them have access to qualitative education regardless of their educational background. This is one area that the school becomes socially responsible by helping the less privileged in the society.
The Administrator, Mrs. Olatokunbo Edun says the award is designed to provide succor for the less privileged in the society. The annual educational scholarships to indigent students to enable them have access to qualitative education regardless of their educational background. This is one area that the school becomes socially responsible by helping the less privileged in the society. She added
The scholarship according to her is worth over N1million per session per session, covers tuition, books, uniforms, boarding fees and pocket money and even extends to their university education afterwards. She stated that over 30 students have benefitted from the awards since its inception in 2004 while over 100 million naira has been invested in the scheme by the school.The scholarships are from SS-SS3. The scholarship covers the tuition, boarding fees, exams fees, books, uniforms etc. for the entire duration of the senior secondary years.
The renowned educationist stated that the award was instituted in honour the late founder of the school, Deaconess Grace Bisola Oshinowo and it has become an annual event to support the less privileged in the society. Edun says beyond passing the entrance examination, there are other parameters set to ensure transparency. One of these is that the background of the students is actually poor as the school management visits the recipient’s family before the final presentation.
FOREIGN AFFILIATION
Loyalist College has also signed a partnership agreement with Grace School. It is the first of its kind with any Nigerian school. The agreement stipulates that Grace School as the official representative of the Ontario based College, Canada can admit students for the first year of their study before proceeding for completion of their education. This partnership clearly positions Grace School as reference point in providing world class education.
International School Award
Grace Schools are also recipient of the prestigious British International School Award .The award is based on the successful completion of an impact evaluation on the school’s international work to the British Council.
The International School Award rewards schools that have shown a commitment to embedding international awareness and understanding within their school.
Schools are encouraged through British Council support in completing collaborative, curriculum-based work with a number of international partner schools, involvement of the wider community.
