Call to Love Initiative (Call2Luv) and the Association of Formidable Educational Development (AFED) have called on low-cost schools to seek collaboration with various institutions to help bridge the challenges experienced in the process of education.

The organisations made the call during a Breakfast Forum for teachers and proprietors of low-cost schools on Saturday in Lagos.

The organisations listed the challenges as lack of proper learning environment and qualified teachers caused by inadequate finances to meet the desired goals.

The annual forum organised by Call2Luv, a non-governmental organisation, was aimed at celebrating teachers of low-cost schools.

AFED is an association of low-fee education service providers working to promote an enabling platform to achieve better educational standards for the populace through effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Mrs Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, Founder, Call2Luv, told newsmen on the sidelines of the event, adequate finance would enable low-cost schools to employ qualified teachers.

Akingbohungbe said the forum was organised to sensitise the teachers and proprietors on strategies to improve the learning experience of pupils.

“We feel they are neglected because there’s a lot of focus on government schools but the low-cost schools are bridging a huge gap in terms of pupils they have in their various schools,” she said.

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Akingbohungbe said some of the pupils from these low-cost schools were participants at the annual summer camp organised by the NGO for indigent children.

She said during the camp, they got feedback from the children on various things they liked and those they don’t like about their schools.

She noted some of the issues were things the school could work on, if the right strategies were adopted.

“What they like, we showcase to all the other teachers, so if there are best practices, they can adopt and for those they don’t like, they work on it,.
“This year we had an expert in school management talk to them on how they can leverage on their communities, no matter how small, to create a better experience and a sustainable school.

“We also had Recyclers – a waste management organisation – talk to them about waste management and how they can leverage on it to get income for their schools,” she said.

Akingbohungbe urged the participants to share things, including pictures of the current situation of areas they would like improved within their schools.
“We’ll go through a process with them, shortlist some schools and start a campaign on how to raise funds for them,” she said.

Also, Mr James Lartey-Lartey, the Lagos State Controller, AFED, said the greatest challenge of low-cost schools was finance.

According to Lartey-Lartey, who is also the Proprietor of Honesty International School, said the amount of funds generated from fees was not enough to meet the demands of the school.

He, however, said that previous collaborations with financial institutions had improved a few schools, who met the basic requirements and benefitted from the engagement.

He urged school owners to collaborate, share ideas and help one another.

Mrs Queenesther Isedu, the Vice Chairman, AFED, Mainland Chapter, said collaboration with various institutions helped in improving the standard of schools.

Isedu who is also the Proprietress, Lazlen Divine Nursery and Primary School, said a collaboration with Hallelujah Africa had helped her institution.

“They will pay the teachers; it’s going to be a very high standard of education with zero school fees for the children,” she said.