Just Before You Characterize Boarding Homes as Houses of Dæmons (Part 2)

Parents are often hysterical when their children return from boarding homes and don’t look chubby or they look emaciated. Truth be told, such parents are reacting normally especially when we consider that these children are the most valuable assets that God has given to parents. It is therefore no wonder that parents get worried and sometimes frenzied and cannot just look away and watch their treasure wither away.

Regardless of your child’s perceived scholastic prowess, the proper age for admission into a secondary school is eleven years. But today, for whatever reasons we have 9-year-olds seeking admission to secondary schools. The usual explanation is either there is no primary six where the child is coming from or the child earned double promotion because he/she is very brilliant.

Very easily we forget that the school curriculum requires a child to spend 6 years in primary school. Some parents connive with charlatan school owners to claim that the primary school curriculum is covered when the pupils are in the 5th year hence there is no need for the 6th year. But we quickly forget that the maturity a child gains in one year while in primary six is needed to sustain the child in the secondary school.

To help these children reach their full potential, we need to allow them to access secondary school education at the age of 11. At this age, the child is in a better situation to do things for himself. The child is better able to handle 17/18 subjects that the curriculum imposes on him/her. The child is in a better position to take responsibilities and be accountable. Do not forget that while in primary school, the child lived with his/her parents who shielded him/her from a whole lot from washing clothes to doing homework and even waking up in the morning.

In terms of boarding house standards, it is a given that any school that charges premium fee must provide premium service. This is however not the case with most medium and low fee-paying schools. But there are minimum standards that parents should insist on: clean toilets, washing facilities and suitable sleeping accommodation. Students feeding is yet another area that contentious parents should pay particular attention to. These issues can and should be discussed with school management.

Finally, communication is key to a harmonious relationship with parents and prospective parents. If we agree that parents and school are in partnership in raising children, then schools are expected to have an open communication channel with parents. Boarders should have a proper channel of communicating with their parents at least once a week. Anything less is courting trouble.

Ike Ngwoke

8th January 2021