“With The Help Of The PTA, We Have Achieved” — Mrs. Mercy Adetimehin
Mrs. Oluwapelumi Mercy Adetimehin is the Principal of CAC Grammar School, Akure, Ondo State. She spoke with the The Focus Magazine, Ayodele Ologunola on her achievements in the school and other issues. Excerpts
You have been in the school for some years and recorded a lot of achievements. What is the secret of your success?
It has been God. I give all the glory to Him as know one can’t receive anything unless it’s given to him or her fromt the above. It’s God’s doing because it’s not easy to anchor a big school like this. I said it in my minds that anywhere that I get to as a principal, I must leave that place better than the way I met it. I must leave a footprint on the sand of time. That has been my determination and God has been helping me to achieve it.
What are the achievements recorded so far?
There are many. It was when I got to this school that the multipurpose hall was commissioned. The school hall was also renovated, provides fans and other things. The collapse and the dilapidated building blocks of JSS1 was renovated. The language department was reconstructed to make it a conducive environment for the staff.
When I got to the school, I was told that the language teachers were sitting under the tree and other places; saying that the staff room is not conducive at all. I do the needful by tilling and changing the windows. We put modern furniture in place for the use of the staff.
The administrative block was in total reconstruction. We don’t pull it down but what we did was look like we built a new office. We put a befitting fora in the front to make it conducive for everyone.
What are some of the challenges facing in school?
The challenge is the issue of raising money. Some of the projects we did were with the help of the PTA, philanthropists, old students of the school, and with the little contribution we have in our purse.
The office furniture and equipment you see in my office were provided by the immediate outgoing students of SS3, 2021. They do it as their outgoing project for the school. The next set takes care of the fora. When it gets to some point, they were unable to continue because they think it’s going to be a small project. So, the school has to come in to help them to complete it.
What has been the contribution of the old students to the development of the school?
All the things I mentioned that we were commissioned was done by the old students. The multipurpose hall was built by Chief Adedipe SAN. He was one of the old students of the school. The project was big and cost not less than #50 million. It was meant for school use and people in the community booked it for their events. When you’re entering the school, the painting and repairs were being done by the old students of the 2003 set. Some set renovated the bursary and the arts office. The old students had been playing their roles effectively and I am still looking forward from them because we still have some work to do.
What can you say about the academic performance of the school?
Sincerely, the academic performance of the school has improved tremendously. What I met in CAC Grammar School then was nothing to write home about. Some parents withdrew their children from school. But since I came on board, the academic story has been changed for the better.
Some of our students took part in national competitions and they won a laurel. They were able to compete with big schools. These are some of our achievements in the education sector.
How do you access yesterday’s education with today’s education?
In the olden days, education was taken over by the principal. They have autonomy. They were given a grant to run the school . But since the government took over the public school, everything has changed. Whatever we wanted to do must get government approval. It is the PTA that the government normally used to allow us to do project in the school.
What is the relationship that exists between the PTA and the school management?
The relationship is very cordial. If not because of the PTA, we cannot be able to achieve anything. With the help of the PTA, we have done a lot.
Before you came as a principal of the school, students normally roaming the streets. As you came, everything changed. What is the magic?
Before I came, students normally went out as they liked. When I came in everything stopped. Immediately you step into the school, you can’t go out. If you see any of our students outside, that means the students have not been in the school, because if you enter the school, you can’t go out. Even if they want to go out, they have to collect a permission letter. That has been our strategy and it works.
We’re in the 2023/24 academic session, what are we going to be expecting from the school?
My plan for 2023/24 academic sessions is to renovate the Cooper’s Lodge. It is due for renovation. We want to see if the PTA would help us. We have a problem with our fence near the Koseunti side. There, was a swamped area. All the erected fences always fell. This time, we want to erect it with stone before we put blocks on it. So that water cannot be able to penetrate it. This is our plan for this 2023/24 academic session. Some projects may emerge from our old students because I normally called them every month end. By doing this, it has helped us a lot. It has been the reason the old students have been coming out to help their alma matter.
What is your advice for the students?
They must know the reasons they were in CAC Grammar school. If they know the reason for their coming to school, there is no need to run after them.
