The University Management has restated its commitment towards supporting the International School, Olabisi Onabanjo University (IS-OOU), Ago-Iwoye to sustain its records of academic excellence and outstanding performance in external examinations.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, gave the assurances while formally receiving the 2020 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results of the school from its Management Board.
In this year’s WASSCE results, the International School achieved a Higher Education Potential (HEP) of 98.4 percent, with 100 percent credit pass (A1-C6) in all major subjects, except for English Language which was 98 percent.
Prof. G. O. Olatunde, who was represented during the presentation by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Deji Agboola, expressed satisfaction with the grades scored by IS-OOU students in the recent external examination and charged the school staff not to rest on their oars.
“You’ve recorded another excellent performance. Apart from this success, we’ve seen that the school is doing excellently well in other areas and we are pleased with that, “he stated.
According to the Vice-Chancellor the international school is renowned for its sound moral and academic excellence with professional teachers and adequate educational facilities in a serene environment.
He noted that the University Management has continued to do everything possible to make the school excel, including regular payment of salaries and allowances to boost staff morale.
“During the pandemic, and when the school was on break, all staff were paid. Even till today, no staff is being owed and I’m sure, God being on our side, we will continue to pay salaries,” he added.
Prof. Olatunde said in furtherance of the capacity building agenda of the University Management, teachers of the international school would be trained to carry out effective online teaching.
He pointed out that the institution’s huge investment in information and communication technology was aimed at optimising online teaching and making learning more convenient for students.
While appealing to the school staff to continue to work as a team, the Vice-Chancellor promised that the University Management would fix the three generating sets of the school that had broken down.
He, however, urged the staff to redouble their efforts in improving student enrolment in the International School, stressing that funding remains crucial to its existence. “I want to say the School is also into business. With the little experience that I have with administration, if you don’t have students, you won’t have income. This University is public but we are more or less private because it is the money that students pay that we live on. So, if you get more students, more money would come in,” he said.
In his own remarks, the Registrar, Mr Femi Ogunwomoju, described the result as impressive, urging the members of staff of the school to keep the flag flying.
He said, “I can say that we are all impressed with this result and it’s not just coming this year alone, it is the standard that has been maintained over the years. I urge you to keep it up and to keep doing the things you are doing right that is giving us this positive image.
As far as the University Management is concerned, we will give you the necessary support that you need to maintain this high standard”
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Management Board of IS-OOU, Prof. Lasun Gbadamosi, said the achievement of 98 percent Higher Education Potential by the school is one of the best in Ogun State and Nigeria, noting that the feat could not have been possible without the support of the Vice-Chancellor.
He explained that the Vice-Chancellor, through the Management Board, had catered adequately for staff welfare through regular payment of salaries and allowances as well as promotion arrears, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apart from provision of adequate teaching and learning facilities to improve educational standard, Gbadamosi said the Vice-Chancellor also provided comfort facilities for relaxation in the staff room.
He recalled that during the pandemic, arrangement was put in place for online classes, adding that the school also made arrangement for coronavirus protocols as students resumed from COVID-19 break.
The Chairman also acknowledged the tarring of the school’s link road to the University permanent site, the digitization of its bookshop and provision of a large hall to create a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of examinations by the authorities.
“All of these efforts have yielded positive results as seen in the outcome of the external examinations. Also our students have continued to excel in national and international competitions,” he noted.
Notwithstanding the accomplishments of the school,Gbadamosi stated that its management board will not rest on its oars to have the school as a British Council Centre for International Examinations.
He said the target is to enable students of the school to undertake exams such as Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Tetsing System (IELTS), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Graduate Records Examination (GRE), Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English and Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English.
“This aims at not only exposing our students to such international curriculum, but also for British Council assistance for infrastructures and academic development, with attendant revenue generation for the institution” he added.
The Board Chairman also used the occasion to inform the Vice-Chancellor that the Management Board has planned general refurbishment of the school buses during the coming holidays.
“Also, it is our plan to complete the multipurpose hall for examinations/dining. Due to erosion activities, the Management Board plans to construct drainage and engage upon landscaping of the school,” he further revealed.
On his part, the School Principal, Mr Afolayanka Olabisi, expressed gratitude to God and praised the members of staff for their sense of dedication, hard work and cooperation.
He said, “I want to seize this opportunity to thank God Almighty who has constantly been our support. All that we are seeing wouldn’t have been possible if God has not permitted it.
I want to sincerely appreciate my staff members for the cooperation given which has brought us to this point. What we are celebrating today is as a result of the cooperation of several aspects of the school that has brought us to this and with God on our side, we’ll continue to go higher and higher.”
Speaking on behalf of parents, Mr Niyi Oduwole, said he was not surprised by the 2020 WASSCE result of the International School, stressing that success and excellence have always been the landmark of the school.
Oduwole urged the teachers and other staff not to relent, saying they must continue to work with one spirit and tenacity.
He said, “The school has always been known and associated with success just like the mother University. If the Vice-Chancellor has not been administering the University very well, it’s going to rob off on the International School. So, on that note, we want to thank the Vice-Chancellor for the great work the Management of Olabisi Onabanjo University is doing.
And on behalf of the parents, we want to thank all the staff, especially the HODs. The one spirit, oneness and tenacity that you are working with, we want to appeal to you to continue to work with that spirit.” Oduwole noted.
