Command Secondary Schools are secondary schools under the Nigerian Army Education corps (previously under the defunct Institute of Army Education).
Overview The Directorate of Command Schools is directly responsible for administration. Command Schools may be regular day schools (known as Command Day Secondary School (CDSS)) or boarding schools (known as Command Secondary School (CSS)). There are a total of 45 Command schools, 30 of which are boarding schools and 15 are day schools. Command schools were established as welfare schools to provide low cost, quality education to children of Nigerian army personnel while indoctrinating patriotism, civic responsibility and military discipline in attendees. Over time, admission requirements have been relaxed to allow the entry of students who are not wards or children of soldiers. However, civilian fees are much higher than fees for children of military and police personnel.
Command Schools maintain an affiliation with the Nigerian Military School (NMS), Nigerian Navy Secondary Schools and Nigerian Air Force Secondary Schools. Both Command schools and NMS are run by the Nigeria Army, however they have distinct aims. While NMS aims to produce military personnel, Command schools aim to produce a wider base of graduates including civilians who have strong national values. Howbeit, a significant portion of Command School graduates go on to join different branches of Nigerian Military. Command Schools are known for their quality of education and prominent alumni in the country. Command alumni informally known as ex-commandos often contribute to development projects in their alma mater.
List of Command Schools + Boarding Schools Name of School State Command Secondary School, Kaduna Kaduna State Command Science Secondary School,(Boys) Faskari Katsina State Command Science Secondary School,(Girls) Barkiya Katsina State Command Secondary School Ibode-Igbo Apata, Ibadan Oyo State Command Science Secondary School, Saki, Oyo State Command Secondary School, Jos Plateau State Command Secondary School, Mbiri Delta State Command Science Secondary School, Portharcourt Rivers State. Command Science Secondary School, Effa-Etinan Akwa-Ibom State Command Science Secondary School Ebedebiri Bayelsa State Command Science Secondary School, Numan Adamawa State Command Science Secondary School, (Boys) Auno Borno State Command Science Secondary School,(Girls)Miringa Borno State Command Secondary School Buratai Borno State Command Secondary School, (Boys) Jega Kebbi State Command Science Secondary School,(Girls) Goru Kebbi State. Command Science Secondary School,(Boys) Shagari Sokoto State Command Science Secondary School( Boys) Talata Mafara Zamfara State Command Science Secondary School Girls Gusau Zamfara State Command Secondary School, Ipaja Lagos State Command Secondary School, Orba Udena Enugu State Command Secondary School, Mpu Aninri Enugu State Command Secondary School, Abakaliki Ebonyi State Command Secondary School, Makurdi Benue State Command Secondary School, Ohafia Abia State Command Secondary School, Orlu Imo State Command Secondary School, Suleja Niger state Command Science Secondary School Lafia Nassarawa State Command Science Secondary School Agwada Nassarawa State Command Science Technical Secondary School Rinze-Akwanga Nassarawa State
+ Day Schools Name of School State Command Day Secondary School, Kaduna Kaduna state Command Day Secondary School, Ibadan Oyo State Command Day Secondary School, Mokola Oyo State Command Day Secondary School Akure Ondo state Command Day Secondary School, Ede Osun State Command Day Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode Ogun State Command Day Secondary School, Jos Plateau State Command Day Secondary School, Ikeja Lagos State Command Day Secondary School, Oshodi Lagos State Command Day Secondary School, Ojo Lagos State Command Day Secondary School Enugu Enugu State Command Day Secondary School, Makurdi Benue State Command Day Secondary School, Abuja FCT Command Day Secondary School Biu Borno State Command Day Secondary School School, Giginya Sokoto State
Extra curricular activities Command Schools believe strongly in the development of students who are 'academically and physically fit'. Schools are usually sited on land that leaves plenty of green space for outdoor activities. Students are required to participate in some extracurricular activities and are strongly encouraged to participate in others.
Inter-house sports Students are divided into houses which are named after Nigerian Army divisions and the house shares its flag with the corresponding division. In boarding schools, the house is usually the same as the name of residences. For instance students in Tiger house would live in Tiger Hall/Hostel/Dormitory. + Houses in Command Schools House Division Division HQ Tiger 2nd Div Ibadan Hippo (Formerly Palm) 81 Div (Formerly Lagos Garrison) Lagos Stallion (Formerly Flying Horse) 1st Div Kaduna Rhinoceros (Formerly Octopus) 3rd Div Jos Dragon 82 Div Enugu
Inter-house sports cover a variety of track and field and ball sports including short and middle-distance races, high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, javelin, discus, shot put, weightlifting basketball, football, volleyball, handball, tennis, table tennis, calisthenics, karate, wrestling, Floor gymnastics taekwondo, parade drill, draughts, and Ayo. Inter-house sports are usually festive events and students may play several other unofficial games including games of tag, pond-surfing, and temporary shelter building.
Educational technology adoption On 9-April-2022, Nigeria army partnered and adopted an education technology solution "SchoolTry" to discontinue the use of paper to gather information across all the command schools in Nigeria. The solution also serves as a learning management tool for students of the to learn both from home and in class, for parents to monitor their children's academic performance and progress and lastly for teachers to be able to facilitate the process of teaching and information dissemination.
Inter-school games Command Schools usually match off against each other in a set of competitions called the Inter-Command games. The games typically have the same type of events as the inter-house sports. Sometimes the NMS may enter a team for the games. Command School schools also participate in sporting events in their local government, state or region.
Clubs, societies and martial organizations Students are typically required to be registered members of at least one club or society. Clubs and societies carry out activities in a given area of interest. Sometimes clubs and societies may be affiliated with larger national or international bodies. Common clubs and societies include Red Cross, Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists Club, Literary and Debating Society, Young farmers club, Karate club, Taekwondo Dojo, and basketball club.
Other competitions Command schools frequently participate in spelling bees, STEM competitions and exhibitions, debates, arts exhibitions, Nigerian Military School Sport, INTER-Command Sports & essay writing competitions amongst others.
Cadet Corps The cadet corps is a youth paramilitary organization which has the stated goal of promoting leadership development and community engagement among Nigeria youths. Command students are encouraged to join the cadet corps. Cadet members are trained in parade drill and survival skills.
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