Founder of Joach Standard International School - Mrs. Joy Chika Achema opens up into her chequered past which serves as her inspiration to start a low cost school. Here’s an EdFina exclusive interview of hers

What made me start Joach Standard International School

I’m very passionate about children and their welfare. Every time I’d see children on my street roaming about when others are in school,l I’d feel sorry for them because I was once like them. I was fortunate to go to school but I did not start early. Back then, I was living with my aunt who discriminated against me by educating her children and leaving me to do the household chores. When I went to work as a house help with a French couple, they took me under their wing, and ensured that I was able to go to school by sponsoring my school education. I consider them as Heaven sent to favour me and shape my life. No one ever believed that I'd be educated, but my faith in God helped me. These days you tend to see children on the street having to face sexual harassment or forced into child marriages. It is to get these very kids who are out of Nigeria’s schooling system into the fold of education that I started my school.

The challenges I see with respect to the education system in Nigeria that my school is helping to solve

Despite our government having tried its best, Nigeria still has one of the highest number of ‘out-of-school’ students in the world. Even though primary education is officially free and compulsory, about 10.5 million of our country's children aged 5-14 years are not in school. According to UNICEF, one in every five of the world's out-of-school children is in Nigeria. Other private schools charge a high fees which parents of children are unable to afford. Hence I’m focussing on not just making school education more affordable, but also making learning a joyful process so as to magnetize interest of children and they come to school.

Mrs. Joy Chika Achema lays emphasis on student centricity at Joach Standard International School

Joach Standard International School: Moulding students into leaders of tomorrow

A glimpse into my regular day in school and my work style

I tend to reinforce the vision and mission of my school into my teaching and administrative staff. I make them see how doing or not doing something determines how much our school stays or veers away from its course. Student centricity is important and that’s something you’d find every staff member give importance to. While I monitor the day to day operations, the greatest joy I get is spending time with students and getting to know what they liked about coming to school that day.

Joach Standard International School

(Ajah, Lagos)

182

No. of School Students

17

No. of Class Teachers

19

No. of Classrooms

45000 Naira

Annual School Fees

Creche, Nursery to Senior Secondary

Education Provided

Here’s how Jolabell International Schools are making a difference to the lives of students and to the society as a whole

I see that at Joach Standard International School, every member of my staff is moulding our students to become leaders of tomorrow. We believe that education is a sure fire way to make social progress in life. We equip our students with the requisite learning to select a career that is right for them. This way, we help reduce unemployment in the country.

The roadmap to the future

My future plan for the school is to have a permanent site instead of having to rent our existing premises and buildings. I envision the day when I can set up low cost schools across the nation to provide all basic facilities for learning and ensuring no child is left out from attending school.