Annual Report 23/24
Ropheka Ed Foundation
1.0 Trustee Dr Kolawole Saka
Dr Kolawole Saka, a trustee of this organization, passed away on 7[th] May 2023 at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport. The organization will miss his forthrightness and are grateful to his family for allowing him to work with the foundation. He will be missed and we pray that the Lord will comfort his surviving family.
2.0 Annual Visit to our school in Nigeria
Owoicho undertook his annual oversight visit to Ropheka International School, Otukpo, Nigeria in Sept – Dec 2023. Staff morale was low, and three of the pupils had left. Two were not attending any school. A member of the academic staff and Owoicho spent time fasting and praying over these issues. Within a week, all three had returned to school. He and staff learnt a vital lesson, to pray more earnestly for the school and the work of Ropheka Edcational Foundation.
2.2 Morning Assembly
Morning assembly comprised of singing of Christian choruses, a brief admonition after a short bible story by staff, and prayers by nominated pupils before classes start. The management plans to put some audiovisual resources into teaching the children the word of the Lord to make it fun.
2.3 Academic Resources
Good primary school resources for learning English and Mathematics are generally unavailable or too expensive to buy in Nigeria. So, the organization resorted to producing their own. Prior to travelling to Nigeria, Owoicho accessed free primary educational resources on K5 Learning website and compiled resources in Phonics, Mathematics, English, English comprehension, Science and Cursive writing for Nursery 1 up to Primary 3. Once in Nigeria, he produced booklets on each of the above subject areas using the photocopier donated by one of our supporters. The children and teachers now have good learning and teaching resources respectively. Some of the booklets that we produced are shown below. Most of the production costs were met by the organization and the process was not for profit.
Fig 1. A maths booklet for primary 3
Fig 2 Phonics for primary 2.
2.4 Teacher Training
As part of Owoicho’s oversight role, he observed teaching across the school during his visit. When the observations were compared with standard good practice, he realized that the teachers needed training in lesson planning, teaching/learning styles and the assessment of learning. He organized three training sessions with them. The sessions were well received, suggesting that there was a need for further training as a part of a continuing professional development program for the teachers. This can be done remotely.
Fig 3: Staff and pupils of Ropheka International School, Otukpo 2023/24 academic year.
Fig 4 Staff of Ropheka Int School 2023/24 academic year and Owoicho Okpe (far right)
2.5 Christmas Party.
The school’s annual Christmas party is a much-anticipated event in our school calendar. The party was a joint effort by teachers, parents mainly mums and the pupils. Unfortunately, it happened after I had returned to the UK but from the photographs, it was obvious that the children had a great time. Each child received a gift of writing materials and sweets. The gifts were provided by one of our supporters in Manchester UK.
Fig 5 Children’s activity during the Christmas party Dec 2023
Fig 6
Fig 7 (Figs 6 & 7 show children with Christmas gifts they received from the school curtsey of our supporters in Manchester UK)
3.0 Brief Visit in March 2024
Nigeria currently has an inflation figure of about 32%. Fuel subsidies were removed by the current government, resulting in increased transportation and food costs. The overall standard of living has dropped remarkably because of excessive food cost and no government assistance. Therefore, it was not surprising that morale amongst teachers in the school was low. Whilst the charity currently has very limited finances, it has been able to pay staff the minimum wage recommended by government.
Fig 8 A grand Ma drops off a lunch basket for the grandson. Owoicho was reminded of the story in the bible of a little boy with his lunch box of 5 loaves and 2 fish. Parents continue to be supportive despite the hash economic conditions.
4.0 Table I Budget for 23/24 academic year.
| Items | Estimated cost in Naira |
Sterling equivalent (exchange rate £1 = N1300*) |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staf Remuneration (4) |
N1,500,000 | £1,154 | *The exchange rate is currently very fuid and may remain so for a foreseeable future. |
| School Furniture | N500,000 | £390 | 2 staf tables and chairs, 12 tables and 24 chairs for pupils |
| Electricity andWater | N156,000 | £120 | |
| Rent (3 yrs @N200000/yr) |
N600,000 | £462 | |
| Advertisement | N30,000 | £25 | |
| Cargo (books, toys etc) |
N605,000 | £500 | |
| Travel | N1,400,000 | £1077 | |
| Ink cartridges for printer |
N390,000 | £300 | |
| Photocopying paper | N120,000 | £95 |
| Miscellaneous | N300,000 | £250 | |
| Total | N5,601,000 | £4,308 |
5.0 Table II School Fees
| 5.0 Table II School Fees | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 (Sept-Dec 2023) |
Nursery | Primary 1 | Primary 2 | Primary 3 |
| Gameswear | N3,000 | N3,000 | N3,000 | N3,000 |
| SchoolUniform | N3,000 | N3,000 | N3,000 | N3,000 |
| Booklets | N2,000 | N3,000 | N3,000 | N3,000 |
| Tuition fees | N2,500 | N5,000 | N5,000 | N5,000 |
| HygieneMaterials | N300 | N300 | N300 | N300 |
| Total | N10,800 | N14,300 | N14,300 | N14,300 |
| Sterling Equivalent @N1300 |
£8 | £11 | £11 | £11 |
| Term 2 (Jan-April 2024) | Nursery | Primary 1 | Primary 2 | Primary 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booklets | N2000 | N3000 | N3000 | N3000 |
| Tuition Fees | N2500 | N5000 | N5000 | N5000 |
| HygieneMaterials | N300 | N300 | N300 | N300 |
| Total | N4800 | N8300 | N8300 | N8300 |
| Sterling Equivalent @N1300 |
£4 | £6 | £6 | £6 |
| Term 3 (April – July 2024) |
Nursery | Primary 1 | Primary 2 | Primary 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booklets | N2000 | N3000 | N3000 | N3000 |
| Tuition | N2500 | N5000 | N5000 | N5000 |
| Hygienematerials | N300 | N300 | N300 | N300 |
| Totals | N4800 | N8300 | N8300 | N8300 |
| Sterling Equivalent@N1300 |
£4 | £6 | £6 | £6 |
5.1 Table III Fees Collected
There were 21 pupils at the beginning of the year but the school has had a steady inflow of children and there are now 31 children.
| Fees Collected |
Sterling Equivalent @N1300to£1 |
|
|---|---|---|
| 1stTerm | N112,000 | £86 |
| 2ndTerm | N90,000 | £69 |
| Total | N202,000 | £155 |
*5 pupils are owing 1[st] term fees and 8 owing in the 2[nd] term. It is not our policy to exclude any child from attending school but the issue of noncompliance regarding fees must be addressed.
5.2 Table IV Expenditures from the fees paid
| Items | Cost in Naira |
Sterling Equivalent @N1300 |
|---|---|---|
| Toiletries (bleach, detergent, toiletpaperetc) |
N6,550 | £5 |
| Electricity | N21,000 | £16 |
| Water | N6,000 | £5 |
| Stationary | N27,000 | £21 |
| Padlock | N2,200 | £2 |
| Tailor(sewing schooluniforms) | N10,000 | £8 |
| Septemberstafsalary | N80,000 | £62 |
| Installationofcomputer | N15,000 | £12 |
| Gift of Sportswear for Aisha Abdullahi |
N2,000 | £1.60 |
| Total | N169,750 | £135 approx |
From tables III and IV, the school is in credit by N32,000 (£25 approx)
*Most of the staff salaries are currently being met by the trustees.
6.0 Donation(s)
One of our supporters contributed £1000 to our building fund. Total cash in hand is just over £2000 (two thousand pounds).
Ater being refused by several high street banks, we are pleased to tell our supporters that Lloyds Bank has opened a business account for the foundation. The organization can now appeal to the public for voluntary donations. Praise the Lord.
7.0 School Governor
The trustees in their meeting in Feb 2024, discussed the need to appoint a school governor for Ropheka International School, Otukpo. A school
governor would have some oversight roles by ensuring that the aims and objectives of the organization are being met. The person must be a committed Christian, willing to work in a voluntary capacity and without pay. This is ongoing.
8.0 Pending Issues
Teacher training Sept -Dec 2024;
Stocking and furnishing a school library Sept-Dec 2024;
10 pcs of used computers/seconds for the library to be sorted;
A higher capacity photocopier as our volume of resource printing would increase Sept – Dec 24;
2 more members of staff are required for September 2024. One to teach year 4 and another to manage the school library and oversee our children’s reading program of 2 books/child/month Sept – Dec 2024
A website for the charity to highlight its activities especially those of its international school.
The organization plans to start work on its permanent facilities in early 2025. The trustees have permitted Owoicho to commence consultations with local architects and planners.