My first child went to an excellent primary school where the Nigerian curriculum was offered. I wanted my child to be able to think out of the box. I wanted a good balance between academic work and creativity. I wanted the ability to reason logically and analytically. I needed to see him apply what he had been taught in school to real life situations… I wanted more! Now, all these I probably would have gotten from a “British School” because they focus on the creative development of children but then the equally important aspect of culture would have been missing. Besides the parents I knew with children in the “British/American Schools” often required extra lessons in covering aspects of the Nigerian Curriculum which were essential for those who wanted their children to continue their secondary education in Nigeria or who simply wanted their children to know more about their cultural heritage. Then I thought – why can’t we have the best of both curricula i.e. the methodology and creativity of the British curriculum which helps develop critical thinking skills and the rich cultural content of the Nigerian Curriculum? Also I realized that for education to be holistic, spirituality could not be ignored, so I decided that the spiritual and moral development of children would also form part of our core values. Thus we came about our delicate blend which is the basis for our site-based curriculum. When I think of a meadow I think of beauty in it’s most natural and untapped form. And so are children! beautiful, innocent and full of untapped potential, but with careful nurturing within the “right environment”, there is no limit to the height they can attain. Some years after we started Meadow Hall I had an unforgettable dream – I saw myself running around joyfully in a meadow filled with lots and lots of beautiful buttercups. As I moved in between the sea of yellow flowers I felt a deep sense of joy and freedom. It seemed nothing was insurmountable. I had a sense of liberation, freedom. I felt free – free to fulfill my deepest potential and to express myself. When I woke up I realized that as I had been opportuned and blessed to find my path in life so I had been given the responsibility by God to help the children in our ‘meadow’ find their own life’s calling by laying the foundation that would help them achieve this later in life. Kehinde Nwani
Founder/Director of School
