As part of its stride to celebrate the values and worldwide connections of the Commonwealth’s diverse global family, Chrisland High School VGC, Lagos recently identified with the ideal of the Commonwealth by taking part in Commonwealth Class’s World’s Biggest Assembly.
The programme, which is part of the activities lined up to celebrate Commonwealth Day and mark the run up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, is in collaboration with the BBC, the British Council and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Johan Viljoen, principal, Chrisland High School, while speaking at the event held at the school assembly hall disclosed that it is a privilege for the school to be part of a global event of such significance, more specific the commonwealth class.
Viljoen pointed out that the decision of the school to participate in the event is an attempt to educate students, teachers as well as communities on the understanding of global issues from a Nigerian perspective, and to harmonise the school’s core values with those of the commonwealth.
According to him, “Commonwealth Class enables schools to take part in online debates, competitions and work on projects with the aim of giving young people a unique and hands-on international learning experience of the Commonwealth family”.
On his part, Olaleye Francis, vice principal, academic, noted that as a school in Nigeria and a member of the Commonwealth nations, students and management of Chrisland High School are proud to be part of the World Biggest Assembly event of commonwealth day.
According to him, “Programmes like this affords us the opportunity to sell and share the values of the commonwealth among our students. Our focus is on health, education, security, and food as it affects Nigerian children.”
The event also featured a discussion session where six students drawn from junior and senior classes engaged in a highly informative discussion on the state of the nation. The discussion session which was coordinated by Bankole Thelma, a teacher in the school threw light on the standard of living in the country as well as the need for Nigerians to be united in the search for progress in education, security, health and agriculture among others.
June Olu, one of the student discussants, pointed out that Nigeria would only improve as a nation if we all worked together.
Nini Oritsejafor, another student discussant, was delighted at the opportunity the programme afforded her to enlighten Nigerians about the challenges in the country and the clarion call for the nation to conquer its monsters.
KELECHI EWUZIE
