We all agree that education is a major pillar of society. If you are looking for a school for your little one in Ghana you are likely to have many options. Pre schools, nurseries and creches are littered all over the country. Just like everything else, not all schools are the same. It is important to choose a school that works for you and your kids. Here are 5 important things to check for to find the perfect school for your little one.
Cost of the school
With global economic hardships, the amount of school fees you will be paying is definitely among one of the most important factors to consider. In Ghana school fees for pre school can range from 100 to 20,000 Cedis a term. With this obviously wide range there is a price for everyone. A lot of good schools are expensive but price alone should not be your determiner. The average fee for a decent middle tier school is 5000 Cedis a term. Schools usually have a lot of other compulsory or optional fees that seem to pop up from nowhere so it’s good to check these all out when choosing a school. Another interesting fee most schools charge is a 1 time admission fee which isn’t a joke in some cases.
Curriculum and how they teach
There are a lot of curricula out there but the most popular for early childhood in Ghana are the Ghana Education Service curriculum, British and Montessori. I feel like all of these are pretty good but the school needs to understand it inside and out. If a school is unsure or fumbles about this they are probably winging it. You don’t want anyone teaching your kids random things. Another major thing to consider is how the kids are taught. Are they merely reciting words or are they learning through play? The absolute best way for little children to learn is through play. If your child dreads going to school everyday maybe it is because the teachers are not teaching them in the way they should. Every curriculum has its own set of books to go with it. Choose a school who’s curriculum and books are popular enough.
Location
It is advisable to have kids attend schools in the community they live in. This reduces their commute to school, makes it easier to pick them up and drop them at school especially when there’s an emergency. Choosing a school that’s close to where you work is also a good option so the drop off and pick up is smooth. Surely if no good schools are available where you live by all means send them to the nearest available school. But consider the time your kids will spend on the road and choose a school that won’t make this painful.
Facilities at the school
Children love to play so it’s absolutely important to get a school that has a fun playground and other interesting things. The school should also be very child friendly. Air conditioning in the rooms need not be a requirement but in their absence the classrooms need to be very well ventilated and well lit as well. Viral infections spread fast among little children so a well ventilated room is good. Computers and TVs are fantastic for teaching certain lessons in school but avoid schools that give kids a lot of screen time with the “Oh it’s educational content” excuse. We had such an experience and withdrew our kids from that school
Security and safety
You obviously need a school with good security. Find out about how they allow the children to be picked up. The school should make sure that strangers who try to pick up children will be stopped. The environment around the school should also be safe and clean. The school should be well gated with at least 1 security officer. Also check if the school has a nurse or health professional who can step in and help when there is an emergency. The number of kids per class is also something to consider. Crowded classes are likely to have large teacher to student ratios. You really don’t want that.
These are 5 things to seriously consider so you can choose the school your child will thrive in. Sometimes you may find more than one school that checks all your boxes and then you have to go with your gut feeling. Maybe it’s how polite the staff are or how happy the kids seemed when you went there. Oftentimes your gut will point you in the right direction but only after you have asked the hard questions. Have you been lucky with your kid’s school? Let me know how you found it.