FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD
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ne critical decision you will make as a parent is the school you send your child to. This singular decision has a multi-faceted impact on your child, ranging from the core friendships they form, to the career path they choose and much more. It is therefore common for parents to feel anxious about getting this decision right, but with prayers, extensive research and expert advice, you will be well positioned to make an informed decision that will help shape many future outcomes for your child. Let me make one very important point clear though, there is no school that is a hundred percent perfect for your child, it is therefore practically impossible for any school to perfectly meet all your needs and preferences. The right school for your child is therefore one which come to terms with majority of your needs, especially those you consider most important and mandatory. As a parent, you carry the dominant responsibility of steering your child on the right path. Having said that, the school choice you make could either make your parenting journey harder, easier, more fun, less fun or simply average. Whether it is a nursery school decision you are trying to make, or a senior school you are trying to choose, I would advise that the following seven factors rank top on your list when considering the school that is right for your child.
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1. Your child’s personality: This is the first and most important step to finding a school that is right for your child. It is important that you factor in your child’s temperament, emotional stability, interests, hobbies, strengths and weaknesses when choosing a school for him or her. Is your child musical or mathematical? Does your child need more attention to help with learning and behavioural management? Others call this ‘special needs’, I call them ‘promising children’. If your child has a disability, delay, or what the world calls a disorder, you want to find out how well the school supports children with additional needs. In a way, the real purpose of the schooling experience should expand beyond receiving quality education, but to ensure that your child grows into better versions of themselves and if possible, the best that they can be at any given time.
2. The Academic performance of the school: This is one that many African families in particular are particular about, but it is also one that may blind many from other important issues worth considering. By all means do find a school with a great academic reputation, but not at the expense of other factors that are pertinent to your child’s overall success. Having said that, you certainly want a school that is academically sound as this is at the core of the formal education experience. So do find out how past
