So, exactly how do you go about choosing the right private school for your child anyway? Where do you begin? What’s involved? How do you choose the right private school for your child? How do you know which is the best school? What about ranks? What about data security, what about the future? Over 15yrs of research on Educational Challenges in Nigeria, we have come to realise that Nigerian Schools lack continuity. They run school just like a snake that walks on a rock without an imprint. For conformation, if you are a parent, try to call a visit to your primary or secondary school to see if they still have your academic records with them and if otherwise, it shows that the school is money making school, they are extorting the parents.
So sad to say, to give a sound and quality education is more than physical structure, price, population Size, it is about the Future. Digging deep, some schools have no mission and vision statement, some have but few of them are not educationists, they mixed up the idea of vision for mission statement.
These five tips outline what you need to do to choose the right private school for your child.
1. Hire an Educational Consultant:
This may sound like a cop out. After all, you can research schools just as well as anybody else can. This is the best advice we can give you. Why? Well, you wouldn’t write your own will, would you? Of course you can research schools yourself, but who’s got time for that? Since your child’s happiness and future success is at strake, pony up the funds and hire a professional educational consultant. You will appreciate the sage counsel and experience which this professional will bring to the table.
2. Make a list of Schools:
This is the fun part of the process. Most private schools have websites with great photo galleries and video tours. So you and your child can surf the internet together and find schools to consider. It is a very efficient way of making that first cut. I recommend saving your favourite schools as you find them, with that you can make the selection of the choice of your school. It is really important that you make the selection of the choice of your school. It is really important that you and your child understand each other’s need when it comes to choosing a school. By all means, guide the process, but don’t impose your idea on your child.
Discuss the schools on your list with your consultant. He/She will know your chances of acceptance are for each school on your list. Then make a shortlist of 3 to 5 schools. It is most likely your consultant will recommend choosing at least one safe school. Listen to the advice concerning applying to the more competitive schools.
3. Visit the School:
You simple cannot rely on the opinions of other or a website to tell what a school is really like. So schedule a visit for your child whenever possible. It will give him or her new prospective home away from home.
Make sure you personally visit and inspect each school on your list. The schools want to meet you and interview your child. But you need to meet the admissions staff and ask them questions too. It is a two way street. Do not be carried away by the interviews; be sure of what you wanted.
4. Admissions Testing and Applications:
Your child may be extremely smart, even gifted. But if he/she has not taken a couple of practice admission tests, she will not shine on the real test. Test preparation is important. It will give her that edge she needs. Don’t skip this step.
CONCLUSION:
Searching for school, it is high time we let you understand that the two type of private schools.