Opinions

The proliferation of college houses in secondary schools

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2 years ago

DURING the first 100 to 150 years of secondary school education in Nigeria, the major team players traditionally or intuitively created at most only four college houses in each of the established secondary schools and colleges. For example, CMS Grammar School, Lagos, established in 1859, Ijebu Ode Grammar School, Ijebu Ode and Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan, both established in 1913. Hussey College Warri, established in 1947, Igbobi College, Yaba, established in 1932, Government College, Ibadan, established in 1929, to mention a few, have four school houses each. Upholding the above tradition, four school houses were also created when Fiditi Grammar School was established in January 1954. These four houses, namely, Obalana, Adedoyin, Adeyi and Baale houses were created to honour and immortalize the founding fathers of Fiditi Grammar School. Chiefs Obalana and Adedoyin among others were at the forefront of those who midwived the establishment of a secondary school at Fiditi. Chief Obalana eventually emerged as the chairman of the committee for the advancement of higher education in Fiditi community. Chief Abebiyi Omowonuola Adeyi was so honoured as the first principal of Fiditi Grammar School. The then reigning Baale was similarly honoured and immortalized to represent the highest chieftaincy hierarchy at Fiditi when the school was founded. This is the foundational platform on which Fiditi Grammar School was established. Any other structure put on the above will not and cannot substitute or alter this foundation.

Unfortunately, this structure has been assaulted and altered in the recent times. The four college house structure was increased to six. In addition, the pressure to change the time-honoured Baale house to Oni Fiditi House was increasingly mounting. If all these are happening to a school that is not yet 70 years old, what would happen by the time this great institution is 150 years? We must not destroy our foundation. The four-house naming structure is a foundational landmark. Other milestones can be erected without destroying or distorting the existing foundation. All stakeholders need to foresee the consequences of assaulting the foundation and agree to rectify the mistakes with a view to returning to status quo ante. We must also take a decision to prevent or avert future distortion of this foundation. The time to take such decision is NOW! We must decide to uphold the sanctity of our foundation and also embark on some surgical operations to do away with our recently introduced excess luggage in order to healthily return to our beginning. A stitch applied now would save future nine stitches and give time for healing before our 70th birthday anniversary. There may be many criteria for consideration in the naming of college houses in secondary schools, but this narrative will focus on three major ones, viz: historical, uniqueness or non duplicable factor and then conformity with the best practices.

There is a lot of wisdom and merit on celebrating or immortalizing the names of the founding fathers of institutions and ground breakers of establishments. This will help to appreciate their leadership roles in idea incubation, conception, save delivery and midwifing. With reference to the focus of this narrative, it has become a tradition to focus attention on four out of many deep thinkers and philanthropists in the establishment of secondary schools and colleges in Nigeria. Each secondary school or college honours and immortalizes the names of only four front-runners by naming college houses after them. This is the landmark or foundation for each secondary school or college. Peradventure there are runners, apart from the four selected as above, they can be so honoured through other means. With reference to Fiditi Grammar School, Fiditi, we remember the pivotal roles played by late Chiefs Obalana and Adedoyin in the establishment of our school. At inception, Chief Adebiyi Omowonuola Adeyi who was the pioneer principal of the school was the only graduate among the other two teachers. Although he was a chemistry graduate, he taught all other science and even arts subjects with the brilliance of a rare gem stone. Despite this, he undauntingly administered the school until his appointment as a minister in June 1956 in the cabinet of Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the old western region of Nigeria. The fourth name, Baale, is honoured and immortalised to remind posterity of the highest chieftaincy hierarchy at Fiditi when the school was established. This is a historical landmark for forever. Any change of this landmark will distort the history of Fiditi Grammar School in particular and Fiditi historical legacy as a whole. It will whittle down the beauty of our history, the charisma of our dignity and the sweet aroma of our noble past in Yoruba land. As there are justifications for selecting those four front runners at Fiditi for the establishment of a secondary school in that community, so do justifications exist for pioneer legends for other secondary schools. Preservation of history is divine.

In the history of an institution, some people are privileged to play some unique roles that cannot be replicated. An example is the founding fathers of an institution. They remain founding fathers forever. Apart from that group, others, either individual or cooperate come up to play one or two unique roles. For example, the composer and lyric supplier of Fiditi Grammar School school’s anthem rises up to the stars for mentioning. Ambassador O. Ogunjuyigbe has given Fiditi Grammar School an anthem that stands up tall like a giant among others. Although his name does not qualify to be one of those four front runners above, it is hoped that one day, this name shall be remembered to be honoured appropriately for authorship and creativity. He is unique in the history of Fiditi Grammar School.

Without being bound by any oath or seal, the front runners in the establishment of secondary schools and colleges from various cardinal points in Nigeria intuitively select the names of only four pioneerground breakers for honour and immortalization with house names in our secondary schools. Today, it is a norm and any deviation from this becomes abnormal.