My Subsidized/Free Classes Will Have More Quality Education Than Fully Paid Classes - MAEC Initiator, Oladipupo Olugbodi

What inspired MAEC?

The need to provide a unique, quality, and functional education to children in my community and beyond at a subsidized rate inspired MAEC Academy. By functional education, I mean the process of molding individuals to develop their potentials to the fullest so that they could contribute maximally to the development of the society, as defined by Adeyemi Ibukunoluwa Idowu. The idea of providing a unique kind of training for students so that they could meet their needs and that of society has been in my conscious and subconscious mind before I even wrote my M.A. project in 2015 titled, “A History of the Impact of Nigeria’s Educational Curriculum on Human Development from 1842 to 2014.” MAEC is an application of an aspect of my findings, recommendations, and conclusion which were contained in the last chapter of my M.A. thesis. At MAEC, we want to build character, life skills, knowledge awareness, self-development awareness, and functional skills. To the glory of God, the vision is becoming a reality.

                                                      Oladipupo Olugbodi 

Do you enjoy teaching, why?

Yes, I do. Teaching is a way for me to impart knowledge and to learn, which are things I’ve loved doing since my formative years as a child.

 

What supports do you have so far to make this a reality in the Ikorodu community?

We have received a lot of support from Glory Creations Corporation (GCC) headed by Yewande Fagunwa; materially and in terms of ideas, encouragement, and publicity. We are very grateful to Glory Creations Corporation. The executive members of the PAPROCODA community, Parafa, Ikorodu, ably represented by its chairman, Mr. Mike Ibikunle, are working on a special programme that can be added to the package we already planned for MAEC. Some religious houses and private individuals within the community are also in tune with the vision, but more support is needed within and beyond the community. We have faith that once we start, God will send more helpers that will key into MAEC Academy’s vision.

 

Being subsidized/free classes, will the students have the same quality education as fully paid classes?

The quality of education will be more than fully paid classes in terms of its impact on our learners. The management of MAEC wants to see our students become Maths and English scholars, and manifest the soft and hard skills they will learn. We are introducing some applications that will further boost their knowledge of what they are being taught. Also, our students would be constantly encouraged through mentorship and various rewards to have a healthy competition among one another. We have experienced, intelligent, and committed mentors and tutors, who understand our vision and are passionate about building children to fulfill their potentials.

 

                                        Some MAEC Academy Students 

How does your educational background help you as a tutor?

I am currently doing my Ph.D. which is my fourth degree. I also have a degree in Education. Aside from these, I have taught from the primary to the tertiary levels for over ten years now. My experience as a learner and teacher has instilled in me the skills of administering, facilitating learning and personal development, and receiving and giving systematic instruction and knowledge at any institution of learning. But as a young intellectual and educationist, there is still much more to learn as education never ends. That is the kind of mentality we want our students and even tutors to have. It is imperative we continue to learn, unlearn, and relearn. We even look forward to having a symbiotic educational experience with our students, whereby we can also learn from them.

 

What kind of results have you seen with previous students you have worked with?

Beyond passing their examinations, many of them have become scholars and skilled in their various endeavours, while having the mentality and drive to continue learning and make an impact in their environment. As my students in Army Comprehensive High School, Akure, where I served and by the grace of God was the best teacher, used to say, I always leave a touch of Dipoism. Dipoism, according to them, means many of my students want to behave like me, observe that I am passionate about their success in life and that I always want to provide something unique or innovative in my interactions with them. And that has been the story ever since.

 

How do you intend to reward students that will do well?

With the plans we have on the ground, students will be encouraged and inspired to perform well morally, academically, and in our other training. We are partnering with GCC in providing some rewards for our children. One of such rewards is that the best ten students will have their academic fees subsidized by GCC every month. Every quarter, a comprehensive test would be carried out, and the top ten students (four from the upper primary and three each from the junior and senior secondary levels) will have a free tutorial the following month. These top students will also be rewarded with gifts. Also, every December, the students will receive Christmas gifts courtesy GCC. There are also rewards for punctual and well-behaved learners.

 

How would you deal with disruptive students?

First of all, for teachers, you have to stay calm and not take the disruption personally. And it is important as a teacher for your students to understand that you like and care about them because that goes a long way in addressing the disruption and politely correcting the disruptive students. The reason for the disruption must be understood and addressed whether immediately or later depending on the nature of disruption, and this will most likely require the teacher to ask questions and listen to the student to gain insight into the situation so as to decide what to do next. And that decision must be properly communicated to the students and followed through.

 

What other skills do you have besides teaching?

I am a visionary intellectual and innovator, and this reflects in personal skills such as writing (poems and songs included); public speaking; singing; creating fiction and skeletal screenwriting; acting; public history creation; leadership; organizing and planning; and other soft skills.

 

What are your professional strengths that will make MAEC in Ikorodu successful?

Leadership, dedication, communication, organization, management, teamwork, creativity, public speaking, analytical skill, discipline, empathy, optimism, self-motivated, and open-mindedness. There is no end to learning and self-development, so I continue to develop.