Planning Assessment Titcombe College

12/3/2012

We initiated a meeting between HELP representatives Dr. Tom Conner, Coach Emmanuel Solako and Scott Beebe, and the Headmaster of Titcombe College. The purpose of the meeting was to assess current progress of Titcombe College, future plans of progress, and to identify opportunities for partnership in the future based on the vision of Titcombe College (TC) and the Educational Domain for HELP. The meeting was held in the office of Teacher Dele Dada who is the 14 th Principal of TC. TC began in 1951 with 30 boys, and added 10 girls in 1966 on 60 hectares of land. Currently, TC yields 510 students, 67 staff and 3 Vice Principals. TC teaches students from Jr. Secondary School to Sr. Secondary School. Dele Dada is clear to explain that TC is among the top 10 schools among the 326 schools available in Kogi. Interestingly, as a private school, the government pays the teacher salaries, while school fees go to daily administration. Upon observation, the facilities at TC were world-class when initially designed and built, and have since fallen into dilapidation and some in complete disrepair; yet there are still areas (particularly the mason work) that are impressively modern for local standards. Dele Dada was open in his confession that we do not have a maintenance culture. The subjects that are standard among Jr. Secondary students are Math, English, Basic Science, Basic Technology, Greek Science, Social Studies, Home Economics, Business, Creative Arts, Christian Religious Knowledge, Physical Health Education, Computer, Yoruba language. Among Sr. Secondary students, standard courses are the aforementioned with Biology, Chemistry (optional), Physics (optional), Geography, Government, Commerce, Economics, Finance Accounting, and Literature (optional). Dele Dada explained that the Nigerian Educational Research Council is the overseer of educational research and development at the federal level coming through the State (via Lokoja Ministry of Education) and then to the local zone at Kabba. Theoretically NERC is to provide two annual seminars, but because of corruption, lack of funds and human resources, the seminars are not well organized and ineffective. Also, UNICEF is supposed to give 26% of funds to education, but rarely does it get to the local level. He then made a difficult statement, we cannot survive without charity. The role of the Nigerian Ministry of Education is as such according to Dele Dada; signing of bonds, promotion of curriculum, human resource and labor management. Teacher Dada used to work for the Ministry of Education in Lokoja. When we asked him why he left the Ministry to come back to the school level, he replied, the

mission; to payback what the missionaries did for me, to develop these students and my passion for training for young onespedagogue. Vision of the future Running water Thriving sports with excellent fields Full boarding facilities for teachers and students In the classroom; better human resource management & professional development o Pedagogue Training o Raise salary of teachers (teachers make 60k/mo) Become a local center for educational excellence Upon inquiry from Dele Dada about educational development, Dr. Conner explained the concept of a professional learning community, and Dele Dada had keen interest in pursuing more information about this idea. Follow Up: Dr. Tom Conner will be following up by email and phone with Chief Bolaji to discuss ongoing implementation and accountability to begin a joint pursuit of these goals. HELP is a non-governmental organization who partners with local entities on the ground around a variety of domains; health, education, business, agriculture, and social/civil.