In an age where many schools chase trends and cut corners to stay afloat, Mrs. Victoria Olashore is holding firm to a different standard, one rooted in faith, discipline, and purpose.
As the founder of Kings and Queen Christian School in Asaba, she has spent the last 14 years nurturing children academically and spiritually through the globally recognised Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum.
In this interview with Rita Oyiboka, Mrs. Olashore opens up about her journey, the challenges of running a faith-based and private school in Nigeria, and her vision for the future.
Let us meet you…
I’m Mrs. Victoria Olashore, founder of Kings and Queen Christian School in Asaba, Delta State. I hold both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. I started the school on May 4, 2010.
What made you start the school?
I’ve always been drawn to children; it feels like a calling. It all began in my church and then my friend and I volunteered at a local orphanage every Friday, sharing stories and playing with the kids. Over time, we realised that their needs went beyond spiritual support, they were only eating once a day. This sparked my desire to provide them with clothes and food.
When I moved to Delta State, I started a crèche in my home. With the help of a friend who raised N500,000, I was able to move the school into a proper building. I wanted it to be a Christian school, one that embodies strong Christian values, which led me to discover Accelerated Christian Education (ACE).
I completed my training with ACE in 2012, as I needed to be certified to access their materials. The ACE curriculum aligned perfectly with my vision, focusing on the academic, spiritual, and emotional development of children. Their books, called Packets of ACE (PACE), start with a Scripture that ties into the lesson, whether it’s Maths, English, or Science. Pupils must learn this Scripture before moving on to the topic, which beautifully integrates faith into their education.
Your school’s name clearly shows it’s Christian-oriented. How has the journey been so far? What has the reception from parents been like?
We do have parents who appreciate that especially those who knew about ACE from where they previously lived.
But we face challenges. Some parents genuinely want their children to attend, but when they hear it’s a Christian curriculum, they ask, “Why must it be Christian?” They prefer to follow the latest trend.
It hasn’t been easy, but God has been on our side.
How have the children received this Christian teaching being incorporated into their academics?
Interestingly, not only are the parents satisfied, but the children are excited as well. Yes, it’s demanding it’s like running two schools in one: the ACE curriculum and the Nigerian curriculum.
Some of them are even tenacious. For example, when a child completes a PACE and scores over 90%, it shows they’ve put in significant effort and are excited to master the content.
In ACE, learning is step-by-step. It’s not about just giving the child a question. It’s broken down. And once the child gets to a certain point, it is repeated for reinforcement. The children love this approach. It’s a one-on-one learning method.
We tell them that ACE is not just in Asaba or Nigeria, it’s in over 140 countries globally. In this digital era, if they leave Asaba and go to the UK, they can continue the same programme there. Some of our pupils have travelled to the US, the UK, and other countries.
Is the curriculum graded?
Yes, absolutely. The ACE programme goes from preschool to Grade 12. And one beautiful thing about ACE is that it accommodates both fast and slow learners.
If you’re a fast learner, you go at your own pace. ACE does not compel anyone to wait for others. Each child works independently. Supervisors guide them one-on-one.
The Nigerian curriculum still runs alongside, but ACE is self-paced and self-contained.
What challenges have you faced running a school in Nigeria?
One major challenge has been space, and owning a permanent school premises.
To run a peaceful, well-structured school, the land has to be yours. In our case, we started from home and then moved to Ibusa Road. From there, the landlord wanted the place back, so we moved again, then COVID hit. We were beside Fidelity Bank, Okpanam Road before the pandemic, and now we’re behind it. Too many relocations. In that process we have lost many students.
Another challenge tied to this is money. The materials we need, uniforms, books, and inventory, must be paid for before the school even resumes. But parents won’t have paid the fees yet. So, if you don’t have your reserve funds, how do you manage?
Take uniforms, for example. Tailors are less busy at certain times of the year. If you had the money to prepare ahead, they would sew your uniforms carefully and calmly. But when there’s no money, and the rush season comes, especially around September or festive periods, tailors are overbooked. You end up with delays and subpar work.
With better funding, all that can be taken care of in advance.
Another serious challenge is human resources and competent hands. You need experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate teachers. People who treat these children as their own. Not just anyone.
What has been some of your wins as a school founder?
This year, we learned that many students nationwide struggled to score above 200, but I’m proud to say our pupils exceeded that benchmark.
However, our focus isn’t solely on academics. We aim to provide practical experiences as well. With safety concerns these days, parents are often hesitant to send their children to the market. We take on that responsibility, teaching our pupils how to shop and handle money, skills many of us learned in our childhood but which are often overlooked now.
During Career Days, we encourage our pupils to dream big. For instance, one student always wanted to dress like a nurse, and now she’s at university studying that exact field. We believe in nurturing each child’s potential from an early age.
You mentioned that not everyone can be a teacher. Would you agree that many teachers struggle to perform at their best due to low compensation?
Yes. Some private school teachers complain about not doing their job well. That’s their excuse. But some private schools, especially big ones, have managed to solve that issue.
It boils down to school fees. In some cases, the school fees collected cannot even run the school. And if the school cannot run properly, it will affect the staff.
If a school is charging enough to cover its expenses, why not? Teachers are helping shape destinies. They should be compensated and celebrated properly. They went to school, just like others working in big offices. Why should they suffer financially?
Sometimes the problem is mismanagement. Other times, it’s just that the fees are too low. Let me give you an analogy. A school collected fees from most of their pupils. They used that money to pay staff salaries for one month. After that, the account was empty. Then they realised that the school fees they were charging could only run the school for one month.
If you want to run a school successfully, you must be able to stretch that fee to last at least four months. But many of us haven’t reached that level.
When we started this school, we had that vision in mind. We were aware of the challenges teachers face. Back then, I had a dream. I knew of a school where the proprietor paid double salary every three months. For instance, the normal salary in January and February, then double salary in March. Again in June. Again in September and Christmas. That was my plan.
But economic realities and school fees have made that difficult.
If one private organisation can do it, why not us? My teachers deserve that. If I tell you, “I’ll pay you monthly,” and in March you receive a double salary, who wouldn’t be happy? But again, it depends on what we’re collecting.
Some teachers didn’t even plan to be educators, they entered the system accidentally. But I pray that God will empower us to support all of them, regardless.
As we conclude, Mrs. Olashore, what is your vision for Kings and Queen Christian School in the next five to ten years?
My biggest vision is to run a school in our land. Furthermore, I hope to strengthen our partnerships with local and international organisations to enhance our resources and support for both students and teachers.
Ultimately, I aspire to see our graduates not only succeed in their academic pursuits but also embody the Christian values we’ve instilled in them, becoming leaders who positively impact society. By God’s grace, we will achieve this vision, and I believe our best years are still ahead.
