BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL
Joy International College, Kaduna is a Christian Co-Educational Boarding secondary school (Now a Day Secondary School) founded on the desire to turn-out school leavers with the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The school was established on the 4th May, 1992, located in the outskirts of Kaduna town (Now located on Stephen Rijoh Shekari Drive, formerly Gwari Avenue, Barnawa). The school was named after Mr. Joy Derek (now late) He was a missionary, a seasoned educationist and the pioneer principal of the college.
His Highness G.Barau. Gandu, District Head, Tafidan Jaba (Now Late) and his wife, Mrs Bilhatu Barau Gandu were the founding parents. At present, Mrs. Bilhatu Barau Gandu is the chairman while Mr. Timothy Barau Gandu is the deputy chairman of the College Board. The founding parents hail from Kwoi in Jaba local government area of Kaduna State. They were products of Christian Education and had the zeal of establishing an educational institution modeled after Christ.
Recently, the Management constituted an Archive/Documentation committee under the leadership of the Deputy College Administrator Mr. James B. Gandu, to write the history of the college, the committee in her wisdom conducted oral interviews with the founding parents, some family members of the founding parents, past administrators, former staff and students of the college, and past P.T.A executive members. The committee also made use of the school past records as documented by the different administrations. For a better understanding of this work, the history is divided into four (4) phases.
The first phase deals with background of the founding parents, circumstances which led to the founding of the college, the exit of the pioneer principal and the assumption of the full administration of His Highness G.B. Gandu up till when he was appointed as a District Head in Jabaland. It covers between 1992 and 1995.
The second phase span for a period of seven (7) years (1995-2002). This phase gives concise explanation on the early administration and how the teething problems at the beginning were overcome.
The third phase spans from 2003-2010. The phase is termed ‘the transformation phase because the students, the man power and the physical growth are feasible. This phase marked the arrival of Hon.Timothy B. Gandu as the Proprietor/College Administrator cum the College Principal.
The fourth phase spans from 2010 till date. This phase xtray the school’s achievements when Hon Timothy B. Gandu, the Proprietor/ College Administrator left for Kaduna State Government assignment. He entrusted the administration of the college to a formidable Management team headed by Mr. James B. Gandu who is now the Ag; College Administrator.
THE FIRST PHASE: 1992-1995
BACKGROUND OF THE FOUNDING PARENTS WHO STARTED FROM A HUMBLE BEGINNING.
In an interview granted by the founding parents, His Highness G.B. Gandu and Mrs. Bilhatu B. Gandu, they had the dream of establishing at least a boarding nursery/primary school after their retirement from the public service since they were both seasoned educationists. His Highness G.B. Gandu built his career in education, he started as a Grade II teacher and he progressed up to when he bagged a degree in English and French and became a lecturer in Kaduna Polytechnic. Similarly, Mrs Bilhatu Barau Gandu qualified as a Grade II teacher.
The founding parents acquired over 50 hectares of land in 1978 and at their retirements in the early 80s, they started with arable farming which graduated to poultry and to animal rearing on the same piece of land, all anticipating the day it will be possible for the nursery/primary school to start.
They were thinking on this, when the Lord brought Mr. Joy Derek to the farm in the late 1991, with some students from BEC International College, Kujama, Kaduna. Mr. Joy Derek was a missionary and a seasoned educationist, who taught in many mission schools including Gindiri Teacher’s College in the 1950s, where he knew G. B. Gandu as a student.
Late Mr. Joy Derek left his former place of work, Faith Terbanacle, Jarawan Kogi in the present Plateau state and came to BEC International College, Kujama, Kaduna with some students among whom were Segun Fasanya, James B. Gandu and Tochukwu Ifemene. Having spent sometimes with BEC International College, Mr. Derek Joy wanted to leave again, parents of these children were disillusioned. Concerned parents instantly met and tried to save the situation; the concerned parents were Mr. Y Sarki, Mr. David Fasanya, Engr. H. Samaila, Ambassador Jolly Tanko Yusuf (now late), Dr. Bitrus Gani (now late), Dr. D. Obaka, Mr. G.B.Gandu and Mr. Joy Derek (now late). It was at that meeting after a long deliberation that the present college premises which was a farm was suggested to be converted to a school. It was also suggested that the parents and the principal, Mr. Derek Joy should visit the farm and assess the place. On their visit to the farm, everybody unanimously resolved that the site is conducive but needed some renovation works on the structures to make them habitable for human beings because the structures were meant for animals.
His Highness G.B. Gandu singlehandedly carried out the renovation works; there were two blocks divided into seven (7) classrooms, one of it was used as staffroom. Also, there were two blocks of hostels divided into four (4) houses for both the male and female students. Students arrived and settled down for learning in the month of May, a total number of about 450 students and 16 teachers started the school, from JSS1-SS3, hence the establishment of Joy International, College, Kaduna. The concerned parents also decided to run the school as partners, the parents became the proprietors and Mr. Derek Joy became the first Principal. At a point, the concerned parents who had assumed the administration of the school saw the need to upgrade the teaching/learning and living conditions of the students in order to bring out quality of the school. To achieve this, there was the need to increase school fees, other parents were contacted and briefed, and they saw the need to review the school fees upward for effective teaching and learning, school fees per child in a term at this period was three hundred and fifty naira (#350:00) only. However, Mr. Joy Derek kicked against the increase in school fees, rather he wanted the school to be ran as charity organization. Series of talks were held between the proprietors and Mr. Joy Derek, but Mr. Joy Derek remained adamant. Consequently, Mr. Joy Derek fell out with the proprietors and he left the school for Jos in 1993. There is no doubt, a good number of students left with him, the population of the students reduced drastically to about 200 and 12 teaching staff including the founding parents.
On the other hand, many parents were unhappy and were not ready to allow their children to follow Mr. Joy Derek to Jos again. Some of the parents therefore approached His Highness. G.B. Gandu and actually pleaded with him that the school should not be closed down. There was a general P.T.A. meeting in which many people turned out, it was resolved at the meeting that Joy International College has come to stay and His Highness. G.B. Gandu should assume the administration of the college.
Before the exit of Mr. Joy Derek, the proprietors mandated His Highness G.B. Gandu to secure a permanent site for the college which he did, they visited and appreciated the place at Sabon Gida, His Highness G. B. Gandu paid for the new site from his personal purse. Much of the responsibility of running the school was on His Highness G.B. Gandu, whatever project or activity he spent on from his personal purse, they were all documented, and the proprietors would be duly informed. At a point, the proprietors were not showing interest again, meetings were called to take certain decisions, but none of them turned up, letters were also written to the individual proprietors, but no response from any of them.
At this juncture, His Highness G. B. Gandu therefore understood his stand as a sole proprietor. Those among the proprietors who had contributed to the purchase of one thing or the other at initial time demanded for a refund and indeed refunds were made.
His Highness G.B.Gandu re organized the administrative structure of the school, carried out further renovation work on the school building, built staff quarters and increased the school fees from three hundred and fifty naira ( #350:00) per child in a term to seven hundred naira (#700,000:00) per child in a term. The supportive role played by Mrs Bilhatu Barau Gandu needs to be mentioned here. Her work was inestimable, she was a Matron, Bursar, in charge of the kitchen store, teacher and sometimes assisted the Nurse in the dispensary.
THE SECOND PHASE: 1995-2002 Mrs. Bilhatu B. Gandu as noted earlier was supportive in almost all the departments; there were Proprietor’s representatives i.e. Dr. Mrs. Rautha Timothy Gandu was in this capacity between 1998 and 1999, while Barrister Haro B. Gandu was the Proprietor’s representative between 1999 and 2002.
The major task of the Management was to see how the aforementioned problems would be solved. Since the major problems hinged on lack of finance, the management sought for a way of improving the school finance this was basically done through periodic school fees increase. The existing school buildings (hostel, classroom and staff quarters) were maintained and improvements were done where necessary. The school was able to acquire an additional lister generator for power supply both at day and night.
In the year 2000, the National Examinations Council (NECO) after series of inspection of the school facilities and man power resources, awarded the school an examination centre and the first NECO SSCE was written in July that year.
THE THIRD PHASE: 2003- 2010 This phase marked the arrival of Hon. Timothy B. Gandu as the Proprietor/College Administrator cum Principal of the college. His arrival is in no doubt signaled the transformation the past administration had been yearning for, he first re-organised the administrative structure in the following hierarchy: The Board of Directors, Top Management, General Management, Staff and Students.
Thereafter, the new administration was able to end the prolong loan litigation involving the school and Union Bank (Nig) plc, paid- off the loan and had the school Certificate of Occupancy back. The Management in her quest to leap the school forward opened up a new relationship with Intercity Bank, now Unity Bank.
The administration in 2003/2004 academic session set a new vision for the school which would be achieved within a specific period. The vision statement reads as follow: to be among the top 5 secondary schools in Kaduna state and among the best 20 secondary schools in Nigeria by 2010.
INFRASTRUCRURAL DEVELOPMENT
In the area of infrastructural development, the administration under the leadership of Hon. Timothy B Gandu took the bull by the horn by giving the much needed attention to it even when the school purse was lean. He understood the fact that availability of the basic infrastructural facilities will not only enhance quality of life, but will positively affect teaching and learning. Within the years under review, there was a giant stride in the infrastructural development. He started by having all the school buildings and the future development drawn by a qualified Architect and the drawings were all approved by the Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Authority (KASUPDA)
To start with, in 2005, the school took loan from Intercity Bank for infrastructural development; she immediately embarked on electrification project which came to realisation in May, 2006 as the school was finally connected to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) national grid. This effort alone relieved the school from spending on other source of electricity.
A borehole was sank to complement the effort of the existing deep well. The school also built and equipped a clinic. Parent-Teacher- Association (PTA) of the college contributed immensely to the success of these projects.
The school phased out the old hostel buildings and constructed new ones to meet modern standard. Similarly, 4 standard blocks of 18 classrooms and staff room were built, a multi- purpose hall which has the capacity to accommodate 650-800 students, an examination hall which can accommodate over one hundred students at a time, and a modern science laboratory were built within the shortest period of time. In addition, the old staff quarters was renovated to wear a new look and the school area was fenced for security purposes.
TRANSPORTATION
In the area of transportation, there has been a remarkable improvement, at first the school relied on a Volkswagen 10-seater bus which conveyed staff from command junction to school and return them to the same point at closing, the school was able to procure a Toyota 18–seater bus as a replacement to the Volkswagen bus, later, a 32-seater coaster bus was procured, there is no doubt that all these pragmatic effort has eased movement of the staff from the town to school.
MAN POWER DEVELOPMENT & IMPROVEMENT OF STAFF WELFARE
Much attention was given to man power development as it forms one of the basic requirements in any citadel of learning. Qualified trained teachers were employed with a minimum of degree certificate in education and the few ones with NCE in the system were encouraged to go for further studies. The school is maintaining a ratio of 1:10 staff to students at any given time; this affords the teachers to know the students on one on one.
In the area of staff welfare, the school has done much; to begin with, staff salary is constantly improved to reduce the rate of turn-over and salary is paid as at when due. Secondly, incentives are also given to staff from time to time; those having urgent needs are assisted. Thirdly, in total compliance with the Pension Act of 2005, the school mandated each staff to open a pension account in any of the pension managers, consequently, the school commenced the implementation of the policy in 2007 as the fund is being remitted into the staff pension account on monthly basis.
SCHOLARSHIP
It is a tradition of the college to award scholarships to the under privileged who would not have gone to school if not for this opportunity. Over 70 students have enjoyed one form of scholarship or the other from the school. The beneficiaries come from almost all the chiefdoms in Kaduna state
DISCIPLINE
As an institution saddled with the responsibility of training young minds academically and morally, the school has been able stand to on her feet on doing the correct thing no matter the pressure, this has helped in raising the moral tone of both the staff and the students.
It is on records in all the regulatory agencies of government that the institution will always do the correct thing at all time, having zero tolerance to any form of indiscipline i.e, examination malpractice, cultism, pre marital sex, drugs, etc.
THE SCHOOL AND THE REGULATORY AGENCIES
The school operates under the strict laws and policies as stipulated by the regulatory agencies in the educational sector. The National Examinations Council (NECO) followed suit in 2000 for SSCE and in 2005 for Federal JSCE. Since then, the school has not failed in any accreditation exercise of the regulatory agencies.
The school was duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission having a business name in 2004, granted certificate of consent in 2005 by the Kaduna State Ministry of Education and in 2007.
STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
The school in her desire for academic excellence, recruited qualified and committed teachers, reduced the rate of teacher’s turn over by a way of good remunerations, new innovations in the teaching methods, provides the basic facilities for teaching and learning, giving incentives to students who excel in their examinations and encouragement to those that are not doing well, all resulted to students’ good performance in both the internal and external examinations.
Students also participate and excel in academic competitions with other schools like the AIT monthly inter- school competition, Cowbell mathematics etc, the competition is giving the much needed exposure to the students.
Below is the statistic of students’ academic performance in external examinations between 2003 and 2010
