Experts identify effective leadership as panacea to students, schools performance

Stakeholders in the educational sector have posited that for the nation’s schools and students to perform optimally, qualitative leaders must steer the affairs of the sector.

Speaking at the maiden edition of Business of Education 2017 Summit organised by Edusko in Lagos recently, the group also expressed concern over the challenges facing the sector.

The convener, Jide Ayegbusi reiterated Edusko’s commitment to impacting the nation’s education sector through programs and initiatives that could help its partners manage their schools better, while also helping parents who regularly use the organisation’s online platform to find good schools and make better choices for their wards.

With the theme: “Importance of school leadership in improving outcomes for our schools and students”, Ayegbusi added that administrators and business leaders were invited to share their wealth of experience with the school leaders on how they could improve on school outcomes through inspiring leadership.

“This is our own little way of imparting the education sector and key stakeholders in it. Together, we can make the sector and system great again

The keynote speaker, Prof Chris Ogbechie of the Pan Atlantic University (PAU), Lagos, told the audience that ‘today’s parents take a closer look at the quality of school leaders before making school choices.

Emphasising the need for parents to collaborate with school leaders, Ogbechie added, “Family-centred teaching approach is key. A strong line of communication should be developed among teachers, parents and students.”

In the panel discussion, Mr Lanre Olusola harped on why school leaders should be in tune with the changing world.

“Everything is changing, teachers, therefore must change the dynamics of how they teach.”

Edusko was launched in 2015 to help private schools across Africa become more accessible while also helping parents to make informed school choices despite their busy schedules. At the moment, over 4,000 leading schools are listed on the platform and about 10,000 parents have used the platform in the last one year to place their kids in suitable schools.