Two substandard schools shut down in abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has closed two private schools for operating below minimum standard in the country capital, and these include Erudite Bright Kids at Kagini and Jane’s Angela School in Abuja Municipal Area Council
Penpushing reports that the schools were closed during an operation to close all substandard schools operating in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during operations led by the Mandate Secretary, Education Secretariat, Danlami Hayyo.
The Secretary on Wednesday explained that the measure was to ensure the quality of teaching and learning in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) schools, adding that the move was in line with the mandate of the Department of Quality Assurance charged with the core responsibility of proper accreditation of schools, monitoring and inspection.
Penpuhing further reports that he emphasized that this was to ensure quality educational services, compliance with the requirements for the establishment of schools and enforcement of minimum standards as stipulated in the operational guidelines for schools.
‘In a normal situation, no school should be allowed to operate in the FCT without due registration, payment of dues and obtaining the necessary requirements. The secretariat through the Department of Quality Assurance is determined to sanitise the system for a better teaching and learning process. We will also intensify its efforts to ensure FCT schools compete favourably in the global education space,” he said.
Penpushing also reports that Hayyo called on the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) to enlighten their members on minimum standards and the need to key into Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration educational policies.
The Mandate Secretary in same vein called for robust partnership of the private sector in the delivery of quality educational services to the teeming residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and frowned at the attitude of some school proprietors who denied evaluators and inspectors from accessing school premises.
Penpushing reports that the Director of the Department of Quality Assurance, Favour Nse-Edem, on her part explained that the sealed schools failed to satisfy the conditions of establishment of regular schools, adding that there were no records of their existence and that they had been operating for years, adding that the closure was key to maintaining standards in schools.
The Director said that the department would continue to ensure that both public and private schools operate within expected standards, stressing that all schools must operate in line with minimum requirements, be duly accredited and registered and adhere to operational guidelines.
Penpushing further reports that she said the closure exercise was with the approval of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, explaining that the department had created awareness through public announcements in various media organisations on the need to comply with operational guidelines to provide quality educational services
The Director in similar vein, said the announcement served as a warning signal to defaulting and substandard schools operating in an unconducive environment, noting that there are still schools operating in an unconducive environment
‘There are other schools operating in an environment that predisposes students to health hazards and those operating in faulty physical structure among others.The department has continued to advise the schools owners on what is expected of them but have continued to ignore such professional advice of quality assurance evaluators,” he said.
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