REGINA PACIS COLLEGE: A SILVER LINING IN AN EDUCATIONAL WASTE-LAND.
Hardly could anybody going along Samuel Ladoke Akintola Boulevard in
Garki II, notice the existence of this school- Regina Pacis College,
just by the left hand side of Akintola Boulevard as one enters from any
end of Ahmadu Bello way. First timer to the school will be pleasantly
surprised at what he or she will see behind the blue gate. The fellow
will surely confront order and alluring environment good only for
educational pursuit, in a nutshell. The School itself was established
some Eighteen [18] years ago. Many educational experts attributed its
rise to pinnacle in terms of academic excellence, within this short
period of its existence to its very origin- Catholic Church. Perhaps,
the missionary origin of Catholic order, is largely responsible for the
high degree of discipline in the school.
It is not surprising however, to see the school winning laurels upon
laurels in academic activities, sporting events, and at the same time,
seen as advocate of environmental beauty. According to education
experts, an outstanding school could be evaluated from three (3)
positions namely: Academic, Sport and Environmental angles. From these
factors, Regina Pacis stands tall. Since inception, the School has
continued to record impressive performance in successive West Africa
School Certificate (WASC) with average of Ninety Eight [98%] successes.
National Quiz organized by reputable organization like Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on many occasions, the school comes out
top. The School has constantly maintained unassailable lead in debates
organized by reputable commercial banks in Nigeria. For instance in the
year 2006, the School came first in an Eco Bank sponsored Essay
competition. In 2005, the school took first position in National
Mathematics Olympiad.
At the FCT level, the school took first position in several other
competitions. For instance, talent hunt championship organized by group
of Non Governmental Organization [NGO’s]; Regina Pacis took first
position. It emerged first position in the quiz competition in the
period under review. In the fashion parade, the school maintained its
hold on first position. Also, the school carted away prize for first
place, in the science exhibition. The winner of the 2007 young writer of
the year award; Miss Chinelo Ezeamama is an ex-student of Regina Pacis
college. Sources say that she wrote her first three novels while in the
School.
It must be said that Regina Pacis boast of one of the best library among
secondary schools in Nigeria today. The Cardinal Ekandem’s state of the
art library has in store, advanced and modern books in both science and
art. This too, is one of the factors that ensure the school’s tenacious
hold on the first positions in academic competitions among its peers in
FCT. In the area of e-learning, the school boasts of standard Internet
facilities for this. The academic and sporting laurels Regina Pacis has
won over the years, if displayed in a Hall Of Fame in the school for
every visitor to see; are enough to convince parents to send their
children to the school.
Just as the School is noted for academic excellence, it is equally
solid in the area of sporting activities. This fact could be seen in
the number of laurels won by the School in recent past. For instance,
the school won for keeps, The National Children’s Day FCT cup, for
March past in 2008. It also won National Children’s Day overall cup
(special Edition for Democracy Day), in March past, in year 2007.
In the area of environmental management, the School ranked very high in
FCT. This fact can be clearly seen in the manner the School Environment
is managed. The landscaping of the School is so good that every body
that visits the School has a good story to tell. The serene environment
has a lot to do with the organizational and management ability of the
principal of the School, a catholic nun, Rev. Sister M. Chidebelu
Nwigwe, many prefer to call her Amazon, because of her vision for the
school, and sense of purpose. It was reported that since the principal
took over the school as head, she has erected many physical
structures-houses, in the compound, aimed at enhancing learning in the
School. Report also has it that the structures are all state of the art
ones, that could compare with those in some Universities in Nigeria.
The implication of this is that students of the School could utilize
the facilities there to advance their academic pursuit.
Internal cohesion and discipline in the School is probably responsible
for high academic excellence. As a matter of Policy, the school is
hundred percent (100%) boarding. All the students live inside the
School, this makes monitoring of their academic performance easy. The
students' academic activities are closely supervised and enhanced.
Perhaps, respect for elders and seniors by the students are another
factor responsible for high level of discipline in the School. In the
area of moral rectitude, the school is a great force to reckon with, for
obvious reason.
Incidentally, the school fees in Regina Pacis is moderate, unlike most
colleges in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with supersonic fees,
without corresponding value for money. Regina Pacis charges moderately,
and gives value much more. One expert in School management said: "for
the past ten (10) years of my observation of Schools in FCT, Regina
Pacis is noted for one thing; it is a School where students pass
examinations without outside aid. “What you write, is what you get”.
Indeed Regina Pacis College is a silver-lining in an educational waste
land.
Emeka Oraetoka
Information Management And Educational Consultant
Wrote In From Garki-Abuja.
e-mail:oramekllis@lycos.com