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Discipline, Faith and Excellence – The Making of St. Lawrence’s Grammar School
INTRODUCTION
The Catholic community of Ijesaland held their annual Galillee outing at Oke-Imo, a part of Imo village, for numerous years. On the special day, the Oke-Imo venue would be agog, festive and joyous for the Catholics, and others who participated in the spiritual carnival. It marked the conclusion of the Easter season.
Catholics visited Galilee as a symbolic pilgrimage to reconnect with the site where Jesus was born and place of his reappearance at his resurrection.
The Galillee event at Oke Imo was to pray and celebrate. The activity brought together the Catholic community of Ijesaland as one. Children and young adults in particular saw the group outing as a special occasion to wear new clothes, eat plenty of food and dance through the streets.
In the past, Imo was a settlement in the outskirts of Ilesa, ruled by Onimo, a chief and head of the village. Given the growing and strong collaboration of the Imo and Catholic communities, no wonder Imo came to be considered as an eminent location for Catholic schools. Ultimately, Imo became the host of the highest Catholic educational institution in Ijesaland – Saint Lawrence’s Grammar School.
ESTABLISHMENT
The first Catholic School at Ilesa was Saint Mary’s Primary School, located beside Saint Mary’s Catholic Church at the parish at Oke Padi, near Isare, close to Ereja – a central area of Ilesa. The Catholic reverend fathers’ residence was by the church. The Catholic church at Oke Padi was the first of the Catholic faith in Ijesaland.
The second Catholic school at Ilesa was Saint Theresah’s Primary School that was located at Ijofi, near the then Wesley Hospital. The school was co-located with the Convent of the Catholic Reverend Sisters. The grounds were very large. Soon afterwards, the compound welcomed Saint Theresah Modern School which was established in 1958.
When the idea of having another educational establishment for the Catholic community germinated, it bore fruit with the establishment of Saint Lawrence’s Modern School at Imo in 1963, on a huge tract of land which ownership by the Catholic leadership of Ilesa was negotiated with the Onimo House at Imo.
The new St. Lawrence’s Modern School transitioned very soon afterwards to a higher level; in 1964, it became St. Lawrence’s Grammar School. It was the culmination of many years of preparation. Although the school came after several secondary educational institutions were well established at Ilesa, St. Lawarence’s Grammar School made a powerful impression when it took off.
STAFFING
Having inherited the long building of spacious rooms that housed the previous modern school, St. Lawrence’s Grammar School had its classrooms, staff offices and principal’s office from the very beginning.
The school started with its first principal, Mr. G.G. Gordon, a Scottish national, who arrived in Nigeria in 1963. He spent the year at Saint Charles’ Grammar School at Osogbo. It would be his year of acclimatization to an African country, and to functioning in the educational environment in the country. Whilst serving as principal at St. Lawrence’s, he also taught the students.
Other teachers were Reverend Father Guy Phaneuf, a Canadian, and Reverend Sisters John and Clement, who were Europeans. Between them all, they taught all the subjects, including Latin, and administered social, sporting and religious activities.
In 1967, Mr. S.O. Egunnike joined the new school as the first African teacher. He taught mathematics and geography. Many other teachers were employed as time went on.
STUDENTS
In the new St. Lawrence’s, the first set consisted of about 25 students in each of two separate classes. The students were reduced to one class over the years as anyone who failed any subject was dropped in the highly competitive and scholarly school. The student body included both boys and girls, making the new school the first co-educational secondary school within the Catholic Diocese.
By 1968, the school achieved complete enrolment across all five years of secondary education. Due to government accreditation formalities, the first group of students was unable to take the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Certificate. The students had to be transferred to two Catholic secondary schools – the boys went to Saint John’s Grammar School, and the girls were absorbed into Our Lady of Apostle Secondary School, both at Ile-Ife, to complete their studies and take the WAEC. They were all successful, with some passing at the highest possible grades.
The second set of students had a smoother time. They sat for their WAEC at the school, and many of them did exceptionally well. The outstanding success level of the school continued in subsequent years.
Growth
The rise in the number of students and staff, and additional subjects that were introduced, meant that St. Lawrence’s kept growing. A new storey building was erected to accommodate the expansion, and hence the opportunity to have more classrooms, and laboratories for biology and chemistry. Additionally, a chapel was built at one end of the large compound to serve as a place of worship, as well as the hall for student activities.
Despite the lack of a laboratory for physics, and the school’s inability to offer the subject for WAEC for several years, some students from the first set, and other sets, extended themselves to acquire the qualification level needed in physics. They gained admissions to higher institutions of learning, fulfilled the required admissions criteria, and became medical doctors, pharmacists and scientists.
Of course, the school has produced top professionals and leaders across many areas of knowledge and specialties.
Rounded
St. Lawrence’s Grammar School was known as a place dedicated to rigorous academic pursuits, proper etiquette, high self-esteem, and good conduct.
Students recall that Sister Clement taught them table manners, such as eating with fork and knife during lunch at school. Boys had to keep doors open for girls to walk into rooms first.
Arrival on time in the school was mandatory, and being in class and ready for the subject teacher was not negotiable. Bad conduct was punished severely by manual labour or suspension from school. Extreme mis-behaviour would result in expulsion. School uniforms must be kept clean and pressed.
St. Lawrence’s was different from all other schools in Ilesa and area. It had a longer schedule of school time, and kept students engaged maximally. On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, all the students had social activities after teaching hours. Also, after teaching hours on Wednesday, all students engaged in manual labour to weed and keep the school compound neat and clean.
St. Lawrence’s students were involved in the Xaverian Movement – the Catholic equivalent of the Boys’ Scout Movement. There were also various students’ clubs for academic and social interests.
Sports
All students belonged to sporting Houses, named after Catholic saints. The sporting House had activities. Competitions between the Houses was keen, especially during the yearly Sports Day. Each House prepared seriously to win medals and awards at the Sports day annually.
The school took part in sporting competitions against schools in and around Ilesa, and against other Catholic schools from farther afield. At its beginning, the school was one of the very few in the entire country that played softball, a game that is largely similar to baseball.
The school won several debating competitions in the then Western Region and Western State, created in 1967. It had social festivities, including singing and dancing, to which students of other similar schools are invited; and St. Lawrence’s students took part in social activities of other schools.
Admission to St. Lawrence’s was based on good performance in the tough entrance examination irrespective of faith or religious affiliations. There were in St. Lawrence’s many Moslems, and non-Christian and non-Catholic students, and from all parts of the country.
Changes
Under the new educational policy of Osun State Government of Governor Rauf Aregbesola St. Lawrence’s Grammar School was one of the long-established secondary schools that was denominated as Middle School. Aregbesola started a 4-5-3-4 educational model for Osun State and abandoned the national model of 6-3-3-6 during his term in office.
The policy was reversed by the successive Osun State Government of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola. St. Lawrence’s has returned to being a fully accredited secondary school for a six-year study. The St. Lawrence’s Old Students Association (SLOSA) has played a highly commendable role to enable the school revert to its original mandate and regain its educational status.
Over many years, the acquisition of the school by the state government also led to degradation of its structures, weak teaching staff, poor amenities and dismal grades by students. Many public secondary schools in Osun State have suffered the same fate. The SLOSA has been persistent, relentless and generous in providing support to the school to stop the degradation, and improve the situation, and a lot has been achieved to date.
SLOSA
From a simple beginning borne out of the interest of a few old students, SLOSA has grown into a full-fledged alumni body with strong branches in Lagos, Ibadan, Osogbo and Ilesa.
Due to many reasons, St. Lawrence’s became a shabby, dilapidated and unattractive situation, with poor academic performance by its students. Gradually, the school has acquired a new look – right from the new gate, new buildings, remodeled buildings, modern toilet facilities and well-secured compound, thanks to the support of SLOSA, and groups of past students by year of graduation.
Individual students have also made significant contributions to strengthen the school. Notable amongst the gestures is the funding of additional teachers, building of classrooms, provision of educational materials and provision of equipment, such as computers and furniture.
Support has also been provided to teaching staff, and workers. SLOSA has organised and co-organised with the school authorities to have events and talks that incentivize students to perform better in their studies.
SLOSA works hand in hand with the Osun State Government and the school authorities to carry out the development projects. Ultimately, SLOSA plans to redeem the old glory of St. Lawrence’s Grammar School, and enhance the well-being of both students and staff.
Excerpts from The Story of St. Lawrence’s Grammar School by Bunmi Makinwa