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In keeping with Excella School educational vision and mission articulated above, the teaching-learning methodologies are child-centred in that they seek to equip the children with all-round, hands-on experiences â€“ hence sustainable educational skills. The methodologies are pupil-centred in nature, and are characterized by the following
Recognition that Children do not come to School empty-headed
A child does not come to school empty-headed. On the contrary, he/she comes with different sorts of knowledge â€“ some of which the child is naturally endowed with; others which is experiential (from parents, older siblings, relatives, neighbors etc. with whom the child interacts ).
Excella School recognizes that our teachers should begin with this knowledge with which the children come to school, then build onto it .This is known as from 'The Known-to- the Unknown' teaching-learning approach.
Let us share with you an example. Instead of giving the definition of Balanced Diet and giving pupils lots of notes, the teacher gives the pupils a group work activity which allows the pupils to identify why they donâ€™t eat the same food at home everyday, and what would happen to them and their family if they ate the same type of food everyday. By approaching the lesson like this, the teacher will have tapped the knowledge of the children, which will facilitate him/her to teach them the concept of Balanced Diet.
Interactive Teaching-learning Atmosphere
All the children at Excella School sit in groups. The sitting arrangement speaks volumes about the teaching-learning process at our school â€“ it is highly interactive. We recognize that children have ideas and experiences to share, and also need to own the teaching-learning process â€“ indeed, reiterating the fact that children do not come to school empty-headed.
A child who interacts with both the school physical and human environment through planned school activities will no doubt grow into a creative, critical-minded and intelligent adult. This view is supported by the educational wisdom embodied in the saying that:
The appropriate teaching-learning approach highlighted by the above educational wisdom is the one which offers children practical, hands-on experiences. This approach departs from the traditional mindset of treating the teacher as a repository of knowledge â€“ and the children as empty vessels which must be filled quite quickly!
Use of Modern Technology
Currently, we employ the following modern technology techniques to facilitate the teaching-learning process:
Non-threatening Communication of Evaluation
After conducting the assessment of the different aspects of the school, care is taken to ensure that the way it is communicated has no adverse effects on those assessed â€“ the children, teachers and school managers. We avoid the evaluation reporting system being threatening. The drive should be to facilitate the stakeholders to improve. For instance, Excella School does not compile a Class list showing the pupil who emerged No 1 in the Class in a particular School Term, then No 2 â€“ up to the very last one! This would not in any way help the children improve â€“ instead, it would end up traumatizing them! Our practice here is that we show the grades which a child has achieved in the respective subjects. We do not rank children according to their performance at the end of each Term. Instead, we grade their achievement in their respective subjects areas on a scale of 0% - 100% . The closer a child being to scoring 100% the higher the achievement (specific grade boundaries are designed to facilitate the grading). This approach is highly scientific, as opposed to one where a student is shown how many of his classmates he has outshone! Likewise, teachers are not allowed to employ corporal punishment as a disciplinary measure against the children. We encourage dialogue, then verbal or written warnings against the child. In exceptional circumstances, where the child has proved extremely stubborn, only the Headmaster may carefully administer corporal punishment against the child.
Why enroll your Child at Excella School ?
His Excellency, The President of The Republic of Rwanda has reiterated on very many occasions how the development of Rwandaâ€™s human capital is the only national pursuit which will bring about sustainable transformation of our country. The relevancy of this wisdom can not be overemphasized. Sustainable creativity is best nurtured when people are still young and daring; energetic and inquisitive. Therefore, the primary school level is the focal point of His Excellencyâ€™s national plea about human capital development The youth in our schools can immensely benefit from this national commitment articulated by the Head of State.
However, educational mindsets, and indeed all the other mindsets, must give way to innovative approaches which can facilitate our country to move to another level â€“ indeed, to a higher level.
Excella School educational vision departs from educational mindsets which seek conformity, are pre-occupied with academic work, employ rote learning, are exam-driven â€“ and consequently add little value to empowering the youth with practical and sustainable skills. We recognize that children are abundantly endowed with diverse talents. Through our child-centered and all-round teaching-learning methodology, we nurture and develop creativity in children so that these talents are exploited to the optimum potential. This constitutes the foundation for national innovation; it is the foundation for socio-economic and technological transformation â€“ and it is the foundation of our entire nation! We advocate for an educational overhaul which seeks to change the mindsets which have hampered sustainable development. Globalization dictates that there is a very urgent need to adequately prepare the youth of our country to face new challenges of the global village â€“ today, tomorrow, and in the far distant future.
Material wealth runs out â€“ but high quality education is a rich resource which lasts for a lifetime! Excella School offers this special timeless resource. Your childâ€™s future is our passion â€“ and it is indeed the very inspiration which prompted the birth of Excella School.
At Excella School, we have made our humble contribution in a bid to change educational mindsets. This contribution comes only after 3 academic years of existence. And, this is just the beginning. We are poised to reach the greatest heights â€“ and we have the drive, passion and commitment to take your child along with us. Give your child a rare educational opportunity â€“ enroll him/her at Excella School. It will be the most invaluable contribution to your childâ€™s future
Thank you so much for your audience. Once again, on behalf of Excella School community, a warm welcome.