Top Schools in Lagos Learning Guide Special
Which school is the best for your child?
Educating one%u2019s child is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. But in taking this decision one of the basic questions that many parents struggle with is %u201CWhich school is the best for my child?%u201D This is followed by a much more important question, %u201CAt which school will my child be happiest?%u201D The answer is very ambiguous and depends on your requirements, which to a large extent are adult benchmarks. Sending a child off to private school is a tremendous step. Your child needs to understand that enormous opportunity your decision entails.
He/she will have a chance to develop learning habits and skills which will set the course for the rest of their adult life. They will become part of a community which truly cares about them, wants only the best for them and sets standards of excellence to which they can aspire. The bottom line is that the best school for your child is the one at which he/she will be the happiest.
While having a myriad of school choices may seem ideal, it can actually complicate matters for parents. Who among parents has the time and energy to thoroughly investigate over 30 schools? And even if they do, how can they really know which of those schools is best for their child?
Most parents look up a few schools, make a few visits, and then choose a school by its reputation, that is, by what other parents have to say about it.
There are a couple of problems with this approach. One is that reputation often lags behind reality. A school that has a not so good reputation may have improved dramatically over the past few years. Another problem is that reputation is not a good predictor of how well your child will do. Another issue is that parents sometimes choose a popular school to satisfy their peer group.
For some parents choosing a school is as easy as geography %u2013 the one closest to home is the most appropriate. For others, school selection can be a more difficult decision.
How then do you pick the best school for your child? Whether you are choosing a school based on your visit or upon recommendation, whether or not the tuition is affordable, careful planning is a must.
Remember, you are looking for a school that will make the educational experience for your child and you as rewarding as possible.
As a caring, concerned parent, what guidelines can you use to choose a good school for your child?
Some of the guidelines that you might use to arrive at your decision include:
1. Facilities;
2. School population;
3. Broad curriculum;
4. Location;
5. Where your child's friends are going; etc.
Before your school search starts, it could help to think about how important each of these issues is to you:
Think about what you want most from your child%u2019s education Look closely at a school's values and curriculum. Most schools provide a prospectus outlining their philosophies and approach in curriculum, discipline and expectations of students. It%u2019s best if the school%u2019s philosophy matches that of your family.
Class size is also an important issue when choosing a school. If possible, find a school with small classes Research shows that the ideal class size is 16 students to one teacher.
