BY DAYO ADESULU
No fewer than nine special needs students at the Anthos House have clinched the coveted ASDAN Certificates to enhance their further studies anywhere in the world.
The certification ceremony which took place Wednesday at Anthos House campus, Lekki, Lagos witnessed the presence of representatives from Rotary Club, Greensprings School, parents, students and well-wishers.
The ASDAN certificate recipients include Moriam Adedoyin Adeyemi, Chinyere Virginia Anozie, Chimaroke Godfrey Agbagwa, Moniyi Ayoade Adewole, Ogheneovo Orhotowho, Bolanle Ojo, Emmanuella Idiolalia Green, Eguono Chidera Irerhime and Daniel Chukwuemeka Obidike.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Head of School, Anthos House, Dr Kimberley Scollard said that the ASDAN certificate obtained by these special needs students can earn them university admission anywhere in the world.
”It shows what our students are capable of. It shows that if someone has a learning disorder, it does not stop him from moving forward. Society can stop you from moving forward only if you permit them. It also indicates that special needs students are smart, dedicated and talented,”’ she said.
According to her, all that the students are required to attain this certification is to follow the curriculum of the ASDAN where you have the courses each student can take.
Scollard said ASDAN is a United Kingdom organisation that has criteria, adding that you have to pass it before you get the certificate. She noted that at Anthos House students are prepared in Maths, science, language, text, project, feedback and everything you learn in mainstream schools.
Her words: ”In education, children are learning in different ways. In a special needs school, our children are learning differently from the mainstream students. ”Not just what they learn but how they learn. It gives them the opportunity to learn in a variety of ways at their own paste. ”We do everything in the mainstream school including practical maths and practical language as opposed to IGCSE or Advanced Level.
”Every student is an individual at Anthos House. The ASDAN certificate obtained by these special needs students can earn them admission into any university. It depends on the university but not sure about Nigeria.
”I know university exists in the world where these special needs students with ASDAN certificates will get admission.”
She, however, revealed that while preparing these special needs students for ASDAN, individual students’ peculiarity is put into consideration. The students are always given enough time for their course depending on their individual capacity.
Scollard added that the core purpose of Anthos House is to deliver broad, balanced and relevant learning programmes to its learners, which take into account each child’s unique needs and abilities.
