Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro

Comprehensive High School is a secondary school in Aiyetoro, a district in the Egbado Division of South Western, Nigeria.

History

Just after Nigeria attained independence in 1960, the authorities began to consider the problem of manpower needs and the desirability of having a secondary school system more closely related to such needs.

A nation-wide review of the secondary school system was undertaken, arising from both direct initiative and external advice. Sixth form work in science subjects was given top priority together with the introduction of technical streams at the school-certificate level.

The then Western Region government, with external assistance from USAID (Harvard University) who provided staffing resources and Ford Foundation (who provided funding until 1973), established Comprehensive High School Aiyetoro in February 1963.

The school was the second Comprehensive School in the country, after Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Port Harcourt, which was founded in 1962 through the collaboration of the then Eastern Nigeria Government and USAID, with its foundation instructors coming from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro is situated on a 171-hectare land, 37 kilometers west of Abeokuta; it was founded as an experiment based on the philosophy proposed by the now belated founders, the Dr. Adam Skapski, Chief B. Somade, Judson T. Shaplin and John Monro “Champion of the disadvantaged, as contained in an April 21, 1962 article published in the Harvard College, Cambridge, MA daily newspaper “Harvard Crimson” [1]

The philosophy was designed to achieve three goals: Serving the educational needs and potentialities of every child: Providing education which is relevant to the Technical, Economic, Social and Scientific needs of the society, as well as developing democratically minded citizens who would be aware of their country's social, economic and political problems in the present world situations.

At inception, the school was made up largely of lecturers from Harvard University and other renowned institutions in the United States of America as well as education officers from the then Western Region Government service took off with about 70 students.

Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro had definitely benefited from the services of the best hands in the educational ministry as well as renowned educationists going by the list of officers who have served there. Also, the immense foreign support provided for the school in funds, personnel and materials contributed enormously to the achievements of the school.

The school is in no doubt the precursor of the 6-3-3-4 system of education and largely responsible for the popularity of comprehensive education in the country.

"Compro" as fondly referred to by many, especially its past student has produced many old students who now occupy very sensitive positions in the society both in Nigeria and abroad.

School Logo

Principals of CHSA since inception in 1963

1. Dr. John SLY 1963–1964

2. Chief J.B.O OJO 1964–1968

3. Dr. D.J BULLOCK 1968–1970

4. Mr. L.A SOFENWA 1970–1974

5. Dr. M.O ALAFE-ALUKO 1974–1976

6. Mr. G.O KEHINDE 1976–1978

7. Mr. S.A IBIKUNLE 1978–1982

8. Deacon G.O ADEKUNTE 1982–1986

9. Mr. J.O IDOWU 1986 - 1990

10. Chief P.A OLALEYE 1991 - 1995

11. Mr. T.O OLANREWAJU 1995 - 2001

12. Elder J.A IDOWU 2001 - Date

Benefactors

• Late Chief H.M.B Somade, Former Chief Inspector of Education, Western State of Nigeria
• Late Adam Stanislaw Skapski, Former USAID Staff & Ford Foundation Education Advisor). According to Chief Somade, without Dr. Skapski there would never have been any Aiyetoro Comprehensive High School. His prodigious energy, knowledge and devotion to the course of education progress in Nigeria endeared him in the hearts of many in the education field throughout the country. The Late Dr. Adam Skapski was buried on the campus of CHSA.
• Late Lt.-Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, the first Military Governor of Western State; As a tribute to his work in Aiyetoro and in the field of Technical Education in the state, the Technical Block at the school was named after him.
• Dean Shaplin, Former Associate Dean , Harvard University Graduate school of Education. He was involved in the desegregation of public schools with the then US Secretary of Education Francis Keppel during the JFK regime.
• Late Professor Fletcher-Watson, Harvard Professor, He developed Science curriculum at CHSA.
• Professor Munroe, Harvard University (He was described as a Champion of the Disadvantaged)
• Late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, The selfless Compro Parent who was present and active at almost all events on campus in the late 70’s; MKO as he was fondly called did a lot for the school, notably the building of the school Clinic and the donation of a school Bus.
• President Olusegun Obasanjo, During his farewell tour of Ogun State as the outgoing Military Head of State of Nigeria in 1979, General Obasanjo toured the campus of CHSA and was so impressed that he described the school as the best of its kind in Africa. He then donated the sum of One Million Naira “1,000,000” towards the school on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. In 1979 the exchange rate of the Naira to US Dollar was at 60 Kobo to 1 US Dollar.

Reference - Naira to Dollar Exchange Rate History

All the members of Staff who have passed through the school

School Hostels

• Crimson
• Blue
• Green
• Girls Hostel 1
• Girls Hostel 2

Notable alumni

Dr Olusegun Salako – OB-GYN (Former President ANPA - Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas) ^[1]

References

1. ^ Welcome to Anpa.org

External links

• Compro Online (Forum for all Compronians)
• Official Site for Alumni Association of Comprehensive High School Aiyetoro
• AACHSA is a New York State registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life for the students currently attending comprehensive high school Aiyetoro in Nigeria.
• AACHSA 2007 Reunion Website
• AACHSA USA 2006 Reunion Website
• (UK Chapter of the Alumni of Comprehensive High School Ayetoro)