 |
| Mrs Osikoya |
Kogi Govt
identifies schools with low quality
By Uji Abdullahi
Iliyasu
Abuja
Kogi State
Government has begun identification of schools that are below the minimum
required standard for operation across the state. This was revealed by the
Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya.
Government has begun identification of schools that are below the minimum
required standard for operation across the state. This was revealed by the
Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya.
Osikoya made this
disclosure after a review meeting she held with Area Education Evaluators
(AEEs) in her office Wednesday in Lokoja,
disclosure after a review meeting she held with Area Education Evaluators
(AEEs) in her office Wednesday in Lokoja,
She said that the
ministry had sent out AEEs across the 21 local government areas of the state to
identify and mark all schools that were yet to meet the minimum requirements
for operations.
ministry had sent out AEEs across the 21 local government areas of the state to
identify and mark all schools that were yet to meet the minimum requirements
for operations.
”All schools that
are marked are the ones that have quality issues to reconcile with the ministry
and parents who have children in such schools should show concern.
are marked are the ones that have quality issues to reconcile with the ministry
and parents who have children in such schools should show concern.
”If a school is
marked, and all the quality issues faced were eventually addressed, then the
mark would be removed and the school can begin to operate.
marked, and all the quality issues faced were eventually addressed, then the
mark would be removed and the school can begin to operate.
”But by the end of
the stipulated period, if such marked school has not addressed these quality
issues, it will get a second marking that tells you whether or not such a
school can operate.
the stipulated period, if such marked school has not addressed these quality
issues, it will get a second marking that tells you whether or not such a
school can operate.
”What we are doing
now is very important to us because we don’t want anybody to be punished
unintentionally.
now is very important to us because we don’t want anybody to be punished
unintentionally.
”This is giving
room for all stakeholders to comply with the process to ensure quality standard
in our schools,” she said.
room for all stakeholders to comply with the process to ensure quality standard
in our schools,” she said.
The commissioner
noted that the ministry had compared the federal policy with the existing state
policy and found that in many cases, the state’s existing policy was very
conservative.
noted that the ministry had compared the federal policy with the existing state
policy and found that in many cases, the state’s existing policy was very
conservative.
She said that the
ministry had produced policy document which was the standard assessment sheet,
in line with the federal policy directive.
ministry had produced policy document which was the standard assessment sheet,
in line with the federal policy directive.
She said the
ministry had also sensitised, trained and equipped all school managers in both
public and private schools in the state to ensure a smooth process.
ministry had also sensitised, trained and equipped all school managers in both
public and private schools in the state to ensure a smooth process.
”At the end of
this exercise, schools would be graded in three categories: those that
are healthy and meet the minimum requirements would be certified to operate.
this exercise, schools would be graded in three categories: those that
are healthy and meet the minimum requirements would be certified to operate.
”Schools that are
striving to meet the minimum requirements, would be encouraged and given
provisional licenses, with time frame, while those not supposed to operate
would be closed down.
striving to meet the minimum requirements, would be encouraged and given
provisional licenses, with time frame, while those not supposed to operate
would be closed down.
”This will also
help the ministry to ascertain how well the state is complying with the federal
government’s directive,” Osikoya said.
help the ministry to ascertain how well the state is complying with the federal
government’s directive,” Osikoya said.
She emphasised
that the process would continue till the end of October, to enable those who
were yet to meet the minimum condition to do the needful.
that the process would continue till the end of October, to enable those who
were yet to meet the minimum condition to do the needful.
”We hope before
the end of December, we should be able to complete all of these processes, and
all schools that absolutely can not operate at all, would be excused.
the end of December, we should be able to complete all of these processes, and
all schools that absolutely can not operate at all, would be excused.
”So, whatever be
the outcome of this exercise, would be published for everybody to see in the
next couple of weeks.
the outcome of this exercise, would be published for everybody to see in the
next couple of weeks.
”So, if parents
have children in such schools, they should be interested in knowing whether
that school has commensurate standard and good enough for their child.
have children in such schools, they should be interested in knowing whether
that school has commensurate standard and good enough for their child.
”We want to ensure
that every child in the state has access to minimum quality standard
education,” she said.
that every child in the state has access to minimum quality standard
education,” she said.