The founder of Pasture Gate Montessori School (PGMS) in Okota, Lagos has said that treating school children like “containers” to be filled with information is not helping.
Speaking at the 12th anniversary of PGMS, Courage Anakweze said schools should create an environment that helps the problem solving skills of school children.
“We still tend to treat students like containers to be filled with information instead of creating an environment for exploration, research, and problem solving,” Anakwueze said.
He stated that the school plans to implement a comprehensive syllabus of experiential learning that will be combined with advanced learning technology and where students’ natural interests and activities will be fully developed.
PGMS was founded in January 2011 with a total of 4 students, under the guidance of Anakweze, an educationist with many years of teaching experience.
Mrs. Courage Anakweze with some PGMS students
“I have been teaching for thirteen years when I did a program at the University of Nottingham, which opened my eyes to the best practices in education,” Anakweze said.
“After the program, I knew that education could be done better. So I surrendered after seeking God and having confirmation to start PGMS.’
Anakwueze emphasized that PGMS does not yet have a secondary school because “I believe that secondary education should be more entrepreneurial and should be located on a wide land.”
He explained that the state of education in Nigeria, especially at the basic level, needs attention, there is need for improvement and adoption of technology.
PGMS has since evolved into an award-winning learning center for children.
“Beyond our academic success, we are constantly winning medals and prizes in music, chess, etc.,” added Anakweze.
He said PGMS will be a “full Montessori school where children have opportunities to learn. We also hope to become more technologically driven.
The school has a friendly and accommodating environment where children are provided with quality care during and after school hours. It is also committed to creating uniform opportunities for all students by providing a variety of extracurricular activities such as swimming, chess, ballet and music.