In this post we will be looking at the meaning of secondary school, levels of secondary school in Nigeria, advantages and disadvantages of running a secondary school.
INTRODUCTION.
With so many terms for parts of the education system that seem to change between every country, it can be confusing to know what is a secondary school. Especially when compared to high school, college, preparatory school, senior secondary school, how do you keep them all straight? First of all, no matter what the title is, high school or secondary, your diploma will mean something similar all over the world, that you are ready for the next step of your life! So, let’s solve the mystery of what is a secondary school compared to high school.
WHAT IS A SECONDARY SCHOOL?
Secondary school refers to the schooling offered after a primary school, and before higher, optional education. Most countries offer part of secondary school as optional schooling in preparation for higher education.
A school that is intermediate in level between elementary school and college and that usually offers general, technical, vocational, or college-preparatory curricula. It can also be seen as:
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both lower secondary education (ages 11 to 14) and upper secondary education (ages 14 to 18). In the UK, most state schools and privately-funded schools accommodate pupils between the ages of 11-16 or 11–18. Some elite UK private schools, i.e., public schools, admit pupils between the ages of 13 and 18. In looking at Nigerian Education, Secondary education as the name implies is the education offered to pupils after the primary school. It is the form of education children receive after primary education and ‘before the tertiary stage. This 6-years course was divided into two stages of three years each called the junior and senior schools.
LEVELS OF SECONDARY IN NIGERIA.
Level 2 or lower secondary education (less common junior secondary education) is considered the second and final phase of basic education, and level 3 (upper) secondary education is the stage before tertiary education. Every country aims to provide basic education, but the systems and terminology remain unique to them. However, in Nigeria Junior Secondary school consists of JSS1, JSS2 and JSS3 which are equivalent to the 7th, 8th and 9th Grade while the Senior Secondary school consists of SS I, SS 2, and SS 3 which is equivalent to the 10th, 11th and 12th Grade.
ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF RUNNING A SECONDARY SCHOOL.
Schools are designed to be a safe place that allows children to grow and develop their personality and skills at their own pace. It is a place where mistakes are permitted and where support is expected. It is a business of its own, in comparison to the normal business world that seem a little too cold-blooded. Therefore, there could be a lot to gain in running a school like a people-centric business. There are many benefits of running a school from hefty annual salary to the control you have over school programs as well as the ability to have a lasting impact. Following is:
Advantages of Running a Secondary School:
- Salary
That is a significant increase in salary and can have a substantial impact on your family’s financial status, as well as on your retirement. As more students gets admitted into the school, that is how your salary increases as well.
- Variety
Redundancy is never an issue when you are a school owner and it is never boring. No two days are ever alike. Each day brings new challenges, new problems, and new adventures. This can be exciting and keeps things fresh. You never know what will await you on any particular day.
- Control
As the school leader, you will have more control over virtually every aspect of your building. You will often be the lead decision-maker. You will typically have at least some controls over key decisions, such as hiring a new teacher, changing curriculum and programs, and scheduling. This control allows you to put your stamp on the quality of the school. It provides you with the opportunity to implement the vision that you have for your school. You will also have total control over daily decisions, including student discipline, teacher evaluations, professional development, and so on.
- Impact
The decisions you make can affect everyone. For example, working closely with a young teacher who needs some direction and guidance has a tremendous impact on both the teacher and every student they will ever teach.
DISADVANTAGES OF RUNNING A SECONDARY SCHOOL
Not all aspects of running a secondary school are rosy. To do the job, you’ll need to spend a considerable amount of time often even nights and weekends discharging your duties. Additionally, along with the ability to make an impact, you’ll also be taking on a great deal of responsibility to ensure the proper functioning of the school, and you’ll have to deal with politics involving students, teachers, and parents. The Following are a few of the disadvantages:
- Time
In running a secondary school, you spend a much greater amount of time doing your job. Most time you are the first one to school and the last one to leave. You will also have several conferences and professional development duties that are required to attend. You are usually expected to attend almost every extra-curricular event. In many cases, this can mean attending events three to four nights a week during the school year.
- Responsibility
As a secondary school runner, you are responsible for every student, every teacher/coach, every supporting member, and every program in their building. You have your hand in everything, and this can be overwhelming. You have to be organized, self-aware, and confident to keep up with all of those responsibilities. Student discipline issues arise every day. Teachers require assistance on a daily basis. Parents request meetings to voice concerns regularly. You are the one responsible for handling each of these, as well as a plethora of other issues that occur within your school every day.
- Negativity
As a school runner, you deal with many more negatives than you will positives. The only time you typically deal with students face-to-face is because of a discipline issue. Each case is different, but they are all negative. You also get to handle teachers complaining about students, parents, and other teachers. When parents request a meeting, it is almost always because they want to complain about a teacher or another student. These constant dealings with all things negative can become overwhelming and You must effectively address each issue.
- Politics
Unfortunately, there is a political component to being a school owner. You have to be diplomatic in your approach with students, teachers, and parents. You cannot always say what you want to say. You have to remain professional at all times. There are also occasions where you may be pressured into making a decision that makes you uncomfortable. This pressure may come from a prominent community member or school board member. The political game can be hard to play. However, when you are in a position of leadership, you can bet that there will be some politics involved.
CONCLUTION
If you are thinking of running a secondary school, it is crucial that you weigh all the pros and cons that come with your job. Take all factors of both sides into consideration before making your final decision. If you do not feel you can handle the cons, stay away from this profession. If you believe that the cons are only roadblocks, and the pros are well worth it, then go for it.