Kogi seeks
police support to shut down illegal schools
police support to shut down illegal schools
By Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Abuja
Kogi state has solicited the support of the police and Nigeria Security
and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for the implementation and enforcement of the law
to shut down all illegal schools running across the state.
and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for the implementation and enforcement of the law
to shut down all illegal schools running across the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs
Rosemary Osikoya, made the call when she visited the state’s Commandant of
NSCDC, Mr Ayodele Philip and Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Busari, in their
separate offices in Lokoja, according to kogireport.
Rosemary Osikoya, made the call when she visited the state’s Commandant of
NSCDC, Mr Ayodele Philip and Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Busari, in their
separate offices in Lokoja, according to kogireport.
Osikoya said that the state government had concluded plans to address the
issue of illegal schools operating in the state, adding that the crackdown was
included in the 2019 state’s education budget.
issue of illegal schools operating in the state, adding that the crackdown was
included in the 2019 state’s education budget.
“Kogi state has high number of schools that are not registered. We have
created window of opportunities for all schools to fully register and upload
their profiles on the ministry’s website.
created window of opportunities for all schools to fully register and upload
their profiles on the ministry’s website.
”So, we will need the cooperation and support of the NSCDC and Police for
enforcement action to shut down all illegal schools operating in the state.
enforcement action to shut down all illegal schools operating in the state.
”We are proposing to set up a task force and enforcement committee for
effective implementation and ensure total compliance.
effective implementation and ensure total compliance.
”Any school that fails to meet the minimum requirements for school
operations in the state between now and the end of August would be shut down in
September 2019,” Osikoya said.
operations in the state between now and the end of August would be shut down in
September 2019,” Osikoya said.
She also called for the deployment of adequate security personnel to
examination centres for the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination
(BECE) across the state, to ensure vigilance and safety.
examination centres for the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination
(BECE) across the state, to ensure vigilance and safety.
“We have over 800 Junior Secondary Schools currently participating in the
ongoing BECE which commenced on Monday, and we need your support to ensure adequate
security.
ongoing BECE which commenced on Monday, and we need your support to ensure adequate
security.
“The ministry has sent out state monitors, supervisors and evaluators to
monitor the ongoing NECO and BECE examination across the state.
monitor the ongoing NECO and BECE examination across the state.
”We want to ensure their safety in carrying out their responsibilities
without any intimidation or harassment.”
without any intimidation or harassment.”
She also called for full investigation and prosecution of all those
involved in examination malpractice and security breaches during the 2018 SSCE in Kogi.
involved in examination malpractice and security breaches during the 2018 SSCE in Kogi.
She gave an example in Okene where one of the ministry’s officials was
attacked with cutlass within the school premises.
attacked with cutlass within the school premises.
While commending the police for investigating the matter, she urged them
to give the matter all the seriousness it deserves.
to give the matter all the seriousness it deserves.
The commissioner then commended the NSCDC boss for the deployment of
their men in examination centres in the ongoing NECO examination across the
state, while calling for continuous collaboration and more support.
their men in examination centres in the ongoing NECO examination across the
state, while calling for continuous collaboration and more support.
Osikoya stressed that the idea to synergise with the security agencies
was to discourage students from engaging in any form of examination malpractice,
but to study harder to merit their certificate.
was to discourage students from engaging in any form of examination malpractice,
but to study harder to merit their certificate.
Both security officers assured the state government of their continuous
support and collaboration when needed.
support and collaboration when needed.
“We are ready to support you anytime you make any request in any area you
need our service; we are ready to collaborate with you and support you.
need our service; we are ready to collaborate with you and support you.
“To also investigate any other matter that requires investigation and
make sure offenders are prosecuted. We
will also support the enforcement to shut down all illegal schools in Kogi,”
Busari said.
make sure offenders are prosecuted. We
will also support the enforcement to shut down all illegal schools in Kogi,”
Busari said.
“I want to assure you that your visit today is welcomed and very
encouraging.
encouraging.
“I promise you that NSCDC will synergise and collaborate with you to
serve you officially and unofficially in the state to the glory of God and
humanity,” Philip reasurred.
serve you officially and unofficially in the state to the glory of God and
humanity,” Philip reasurred.
………Conducts
successful basic examination
successful basic examination
Kogi Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MOEST) Wednesday said
its effort to conduct quality and credible basic examination in the state had
yielded the desired results.
its effort to conduct quality and credible basic examination in the state had
yielded the desired results.
The Director, Education Support Services, of the ministry, Mr Femi
Sunday, told journalists after he monitored the ongoing Basic Education
Certificate Examination (BECE) in some schools Wednesday in Kabba/Bunu local
government areas of Kogi state.
Sunday, told journalists after he monitored the ongoing Basic Education
Certificate Examination (BECE) in some schools Wednesday in Kabba/Bunu local
government areas of Kogi state.
He said they had gone round to monitor the exam and there were lots of
improvement in the general conduct of the examination.
improvement in the general conduct of the examination.
“All the efforts of the ministry under the leadership of the
commissioner, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, has yielded the desired results and we are
glad.
commissioner, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, has yielded the desired results and we are
glad.
“We went to several schools today and our observations are the same. We
are glad things have tremendously improved; exam materials arrived all centres
timely, and the children are also happy.
are glad things have tremendously improved; exam materials arrived all centres
timely, and the children are also happy.
“We congratulate our governor and the commissioner and all our principals
for a job well done,” Sunday said.
for a job well done,” Sunday said.
He assured that all efforts were going on at the level of the ministry to
ensure that the basic education exam results are released on time.
ensure that the basic education exam results are released on time.
Zonal Director of Education, Kabba/Bunu and Ijumu LGAs, Mr Daudu Abiodun,
said there was tremendous improvement compared to the previous BECE.
said there was tremendous improvement compared to the previous BECE.
“Things have been going on smoothly in this zone since the commencement
of the exam and we are doing mathematics today”.
of the exam and we are doing mathematics today”.
He noted that a total of 51 schools were participating in the exam with a
total of 1, 760 candidates in Kabba/Bunu LGA.
total of 1, 760 candidates in Kabba/Bunu LGA.
He commended the governor for giving the enabling environment and the
commissioner for bringing innovations to the conduct of exams, which has
reduced problems and complaints in the exams.
commissioner for bringing innovations to the conduct of exams, which has
reduced problems and complaints in the exams.
“We want her to maintain the good innovations and increase the tempo,”
Abiodun said.
Abiodun said.