By Golok Nanmwa,Jos
Star Education and Leadership Initiative (SELI) yesterday donated pupil’s pupil-friendly educational playground facilities to develop cognitive reasoning and increase learning ability to two schools in Jos North local government council of Plateau state.
Our correspondent reports that the primary schools that benefited from the gesture of the NGO are COCIN Treasure Academy Fudawa and the Redeemed of the lord’s school Bauchi Ring Road Jos.
The founder of Star Education and Leadership Initiative (SELI), Esther Onyinyechi Mark-Nathaniel, at the commissioning of the educational playgrounds in both schools, stressed that one of the ways children learn and develop easily is through play.
“If we are going to have well-balanced adults in the future, they need to be well-balanced children now. Constructive Play is one of the ways to achieve that. The educational playgrounds ensure that children have enough reasons to be in, and remain in school .”
According to her, play develops the social and leadership skills in children.
‘’It has always been our dream to provide access to quality education for children in and outside schools across the nation and beyond and one notable way of achieving this, is through educational playgrounds.’’
Esther noted that playing helps children think and learn creatively which helps in regulating their emotions. She also stressed that intentionally building educational playgrounds in schools is one sure way of boosting education in underserved communities, while ensuring that children have enough reason to attend schools.
“Play is not just fun, it is anxiety relieving. It teaches children social skills of negotiation and cooperation. Through play, they develop problem-solving skills as they get to understand the relationship between cause and effect in the world around them. These are skills that will help them navigate life in future.”
She explained further that play also helps children develop cognitive abilities such as language, reasoning and creative skills.
Mrs Esther also offered scholarships to two children from the two schools.
The headteacher of both schools appreciated the organisation for the initiative.
While commissioning the playground at The Redeemed of the Lords School, Jos, Prof H.D Danfulani of the University of Jos thanked the NGO for changing the face of education in Jos, Plateau State.
Head teacher of COCIN Treasure Academy in Fudawa Mrs Joyce Dapiyen noted that the pupils will remain indebted to the NGO.
She thanked the NGO stressing that the facilities on the playground will aid the development of the children.
‘’We are happy with this donation, as you can see the facilities on the playground will aid the development of the children, we are grateful to SELI’’, she added.
Our correspondent reports that the child-friendly educational playground has different game facilities like colourful tire rails, monkey bars, Rockets, Slide huts, slides, seesaws, Tyre Calculators, and swings amongst others.
The Educational Playgrounds were constructed with funding from the Reciprocal Exchange Component of the Mandela Washington Fellowship of Young African Leaders Play360. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.
