Olashore International School (OIS) recently signed an MoU with the Institute of Education in Ireland to offer foundation courses that will serve as a platform for Olashore Students who wish to study Medicine to easily transit into Medical Universities in Ireland and UK. This was signed during the recent visit of some of the Irish government to Lagos, Nigeria.
According to the Chairman, Board of Governors, Olashore International School, Mr Abimbola Olashore, the partnership became necessary as part of the school’s product offerings so as to give the students more options of schools to study in the UK and Ireland. His words: “Well the essence of the MoU signing is to give students various options. We realized that quite a number of students want to study medicine and we know that medicine is one of the difficult professions to get into. So the MoU we are signing with the Irish today is to give pathway to study medicine in Ireland and also into UK. It’s a foundation programme. Upon graduation from the secondary school, Olashore students who wish to study medicine will embark on a year foundation programme with us, and then move on for the foundation programme at Ireland which gives them the leverage to gain easy admission into any of the leading Medical Universities in Ireland. Though we already had Lancaster University Foundation Programme in the school, this Ireland University Foundation Programme is unique in that it offers Medical courses which the former doesn’t have in the offing. We chose Ireland rather than any other country because some of the leading Medical Colleges are situated therein, the programme is accredited, it’s a platform for smooth transition into the University in Ireland, and finally because it has a strong tie with the UK especially with the fact that they both have English speaking background”.
The Director, Institute of Education, Dublin, Ireland, Mr Andrew Kearns, reiterates that their programme is a leading pre-university college one and they are proud to sign pact with one of the most prestigious schools in Nigeria. His words: “We are the leading Pre-University College in Ireland preparing students for the Irish exams which leads to the entry of students to all the Universities in the leading Universities in Ireland, UK, and some universities in the United States. Today we are signing the MoU with one of the most prestigious secondary schools in Nigeria and indeed Africa, Olashore International School, and we are very excited about this function. By agreement, we will be receiving selected students from Olashore who have completed one year education in Year 14 in Olashore, and will be transferred over to our programme in Ireland for further studies after which they will be easily admitted into top Irish Medical Schools. One of our main attractions of this programme is that every year we send lots of Nigerian students to the medical schools in Ireland, some of which are University College, Dublin, and University College, Ireland, amongst others. Ireland has had very long connections with very well known Nigerians coming into school. Some of the examples are people like Dr Moses Majekodunmi who did his university education in Ireland, the late George Kayode Esan, Mr Jaja Nwachukwu, the first prime minister in the post-independent Nigeria government, all trained in Ireland. Our programme prepares students for all faculties and all universities, but we are in agreement with Olashore International School on Medicine. The branch of Medicine is very difficult no matter how intelligent the students are. We are confident that with the training and education that these students received in Nigeria coupled with the education that we will be giving to them when they come to Ireland will help them lead in Medical Schools. In Conjunction with Olashore, we will be picking selected students who are academically strong in the science area, mathematics area, and other areas, and yet passionate about studying Medicine. Our focus is on Medicine because all over the world, there are hundred and thousands of options in business, engineering, science, and the likes, whereas there are no options for those who wish to study Medicine”.
To ensure parental backings, the Principal, Olashore International School, Mr Derek Smith, pointed out that parents embraced the idea of the ne Medical Foundation Programme in Ireland. His words: “ The outcome of this MoU signing will provide opportunity for parents to enroll their children in colleges that offer Medicine in top Universities in Ireland, in order to provide top quality education. I have been discussing with parents for the past six months, and they embraced it as a welcome idea. They were impressed because some of the parents who loved to their children to study abroad, had challenges doing that, but with this foundation, it’s made easier to gain admission into any University Colleges of Medicine .
Ireland longstanding reputation for high quality education is built on the solid foundation of commitment to excellence, which has have one of the best education systems in the world. On his part, The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Mr believes that when Nigerians come to school in Nigeria, they will get used to the Irish People, Irish Schools, Irish Companies, and the likes.
Established in 1994, on 60 acres of land, Olashore International School is a co-educational school which offers high caliber education in a wide range of subjects at Junior Secondary, Senior Secondary and a University Foundation Programme in partnership with Lancaster University. Over the past 20 years, the school has succeeded in creating a community of world class services around the school including a first class hotel, a golf course and Leadership training centre that all combine to give the school a unique identity. The school is particularly appealing to discerning Nigerians at home and abroad, as well as expatriates residing in Nigeria, who desire a school with a strong value system, demonstrable track record and a clear sense of purpose
