Minister For FCT Approves Closure Of Two Sub-standard Schools In Abuja

Eko Hot Blog reports that two schools functioning below standard have been shut down in Abuja by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The private schools, Erudite Bright Kids at Kagini and Jane’s Angela School in Abuja Municipal Area Council were shut down on account of low standards.

The action was taken in line with the mandate of the Department of Quality Assurance established to oversee accreditation of schools, monitoring and inspection.

The Mandate Secretary, Education Secretariat, FCTA, Dr Danlami Hayyo, who led the team in Abuja, explained that the measure was to ensure quality of teaching and learning in FCT schools.

This, according to him, is to ensure quality educational services, compliance to 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 sanitize the system for a better teaching and learning process.

“We will also intensify its efforts to ensure FCT schools compete favorably in the global education space,” he said.

The mandate secretary also frowned at the attitude of some school proprietors who denied evaluators and inspectors from accessing school premises.

According to the Director, Department of Quality Assurance, Dr Favour Nse-Edem, the sealed schools failed to satisfy the conditions of establishment of regular schools adding that there was no record of their existence after years of been established.

Nse-Edem buttressed that the closure exercise was approved by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike and maintained that department would continue to ensure that both public and private schools operate within expected standards which requires that they be duly accredited and ethical.

Prior to the closure of the affected schools she explained 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 said that the announcement served as a warning signal to defaulting and substandard 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,” she said.

Demanding cooperation from Proprietors and School owners, Hayyo called on the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) to enlighten their members on minimum standards and the need adhere to FCT Administration educational policies. Hayyo, also called for robust partnership of the private sector in the delivery of quality educational services in the FCT.

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