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By Damiete Braide
Due to his passion, love for children and to give back to the society a sound and quality education that can be measured internationally, Mr. Chijioke Godfrey Nwajioha, decided to establish Gran Hermano Group in Awka, Anambra State a decade ago.
Nwajioha, Chief Executive Officer of Gran Hermano said the academy aims to prepare children and students as responsible citizens through values education and community engagement.
In this interview with Daily Sun, Nwajioha speaks on how the academy keep tab on educational trends and best practices, achievements and success stories of his students in academics, sports through which the academy promotes technological integration in education to prepare students for the digital age among others.
Excerpts:
How is the vision of your academy align with the educational goals in Nigeria?
Gran Hermano Academy envisions providing quality education with a mission focused on academic excellence, character building, and community engagement, aligning with Nigeria’s educational goals. Our motto is ‘Raising Leaders Through Excellence’, and we go about achieving this with great vigour and clear conscience. Education, for us, is character-building and solving problems, and anything short of this is a total waste of time. Our students are tutored to care for humanity and uphold honesty.
How do you update on educational trends and best practices?
As a forward-thinking educational institution, we employ a proactive approach to staying updated on educational trends and best practices, ensuring continuous innovation and responsiveness to changing needs. In what ways does the school contribute to the moral and ethical development of students? Moral and ethical development is integral to our curriculum at Gran Hermano Academy, aiming to prepare students as responsible citizens through values education and community engagement. Values education, community engagement, positive role models and student-led initiatives collectively contribute to preparing students as responsible and ethical citizens in society.
What unique academic and extracurricular activities do you offer to enhance the overall development of students?
The Academy offers diverse academic programmes and extracurricular activities, including STEM initiatives, arts programmes, and sports, fostering a well-rounded development for students. In fact, we engage in holistic education, including career guidance and digital learning.
How does your school ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for students and staff?
We prioritize safety through stringent security measures, trained staff, and a supportive environment that promotes the well-being of both students and staff. The measures put in place to achieve this object include security protocols, implementing strict access controls and security measures to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the premises, emergency preparedness. We do this by conducting regular drills for fire outbreak or other emergencies to ensure everyone knows how to respond appropriately.
In what ways does your institution promote technological integration in education to prepare students for the digital age?
Gran Hermano Academy integrates technology through digital classrooms, online resources, and digital literacy programmes, preparing students for the challenges of the digital age. For instance, in our school, lectures are projected via smart TVs and teachers are mandated to embrace technology by making sure that their lesson plans, notes and examination questions are sent for vetting via soft copies. Assignments and lecture notes are given to the students through their laptops (for the senior students) or projected on the board or smart TV (for the junior students). Also, during our summer school every August, we organise coding and STEM education for our students to develop the skills relevant to the digital landscape. In addition to this, our students also undergo cybersecurity education and digital safety to prepare them for responsible digital citizenship. By embracing these strategies, the Academy aims to equip students with the digital literacy and skills needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven society.
How do you provide quality education and making it affordable to different categories of students?
We address affordability challenges by implementing cost-effective measures without compromising on the quality of education, ensuring access for a diverse student population. We offer scholarships and financial aids, optimizing operational costs and leveraging technology for cost-effective learning resources. For instance, in Gran Hermano Academy, there are several scholarship initiatives for vulnerable, bright, and under-privileged students, which are open to students from disadvantaged backgrounds that have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership potentials. During our 10th anniversary celebration last December, we raised funds for that purpose. These initiatives help to ensure that all students have access to quality education, regardless of their socio-economic status. Scholarship is to reward hard work, assist the under-privileged and to challenge other students to do better.
How does the school promote cultural and social development of students, emphasizing values and ethics?
Cultural and social development is nurtured through values-based education at Gran Hermano Academy, by fostering a sense of community, respect, and ethical behaviour among students. We contribute to this by ensuring an inclusive environment that promotes diversity. We incorporate values and ethics through curriculum, extracurricular activities and character education programmes. Additionally, we organize events that celebrate various cultures through our cultural carnival celebrations, encourage students to appreciate diversity and develop a sense of social responsibility towards one another. The overall goal is to equip students with the values and ethics necessary for positive contributions to society.
How does the school support students’ mental and emotional well-being the in challenging times?
Supporting students’ mental and emotional well-being is a priority at Gran Hermano Academy, with counseling services and proactive programmes in place, especially during challenging times. We do this also by organising workshops and awareness campaigns to help our students. Our counselling department is well positioned to address individual needs and promote a supportive environment.
Highlight any recent achievements of your students?
Recent achievements at Gran Hermano Academy include outstanding academic results, sports victories, and commendable performances in various extracurricular activities. For instance, in last year’s UTME, three of our students scored 324, 322 and 320, with many having a score of 280 and above. Our students make their university admission requirements in WASSCE in one sitting. In the last two editions of NECO BECE, two of our students made 11 distinctions out of 11 subjects entered for. External competitions are not left out. Most recently in 2023, our student, Miss Obi Victoria got the first position in the Decathlon Science and Mathematics competition while Miss Ike-Nnagbo Melody won the SPMC’s My Period Stories National Essay Competition.
