The Nation Newspaper

Tag: private schools

  • Lagos tasks private schools on standards of curriculum delivery

    Lagos tasks private schools on standards of curriculum delivery

    •Presents approval letters to 75 new school owners

    The Lagos State Government has urged owners of newly approved private schools to uphold the highest standards of curriculum delivery, discipline, and compliance with the State’s educational guidelines.

    Speaking at the official presentation of provisional approval certificates to 75 new private school operators on Thursday at the NUT Pavilion, Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, reiterated the State’s commitment to quality education across both public and private schools.

    He explained that the issuance of the provisional certificates followed a rigorous accreditation exercise to ensure that schools meet the minimum requirements in infrastructure, curriculum delivery, safety, and staff quality.

     According to him, the move was part of efforts to sanitize the education sector and promote excellence in learning outcomes, stressing that education remains a critical pillar of Lagos State’s development.

     Commending OEQA for its dedication to completing the registration and documentation process, the Commissioner urged the school owners to work in synergy with government policies, employ only qualified teachers certified by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), and ensure strict adherence to safety guidelines.

     “Make sure you don’t keep information from the Ministry for your own safety. Employ only competent teachers with good conduct. And when evaluators come around, don’t shut your school gates against them, it sends wrong signals about what is going on in your schools,” Alli-Balogun warned.

     On her part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, congratulated the new school owners and reminded them that their operations must reflect Lagos State’s vision for innovation, inclusiveness, and global competitiveness.

    She emphasized that the provisional approval is not a license for complacency but an opportunity to demonstrate commitment to raising well-rounded pupils, while assuring that periodic monitoring by OEQA officials would continue.

    The Permanent Secretary reminded the school owners that approval is not just a certificate to be displayed but a seal of trust and responsibility covering infrastructure, staffing, governance, learner safety, and child protection.

    Giving a breakdown of the approvals, the Coordinating Director, OEQA, Mr. Remi Abdul, disclosed that 292 schools were granted provisional approval in 2024, while 70 schools were approved earlier in February 2025. With the latest 75 approvals, 145 schools have been cleared in two batches this year alone.

     He listed the benefits of the approval, including full government recognition, eligibility for external examinations such as WAEC and NECO, access to capacity-building programmes, and inclusion in the State’s Education Management Information System (EMIS).

    The Coordinating Director, OEQA, also used the occasion to remind proprietors of the forthcoming State-wide enumeration exercise of all private schools, which he said is critical for building a robust EMIS database for Lagos State.

    Read Also: Economic reforms bearing fruit as Nigeria charts new course for growth – Tinubu

    He urged all stakeholders to cooperate fully with enumerators to ensure accurate data that would guide government interventions in infrastructure, teacher supply, and examination logistics.

     Mr. Abdul, however, cautioned proprietors against non-compliance, stressing that approvals cannot be transferred to other owners without OEQA’s authorization.

    He also noted that schools intending to operate hostels must apply separately for approval.

     “It is important to undertake training on safeguarding and child protection and domesticate these principles in your schools for teachers, students, and stakeholders,” he added.

     The representative of the Lagos State Examinations Board, Mr. Gbadebo Israel, congratulated the school owners and advised them to approach the Board for guidance on processes required to enable their students to sit for State examinations.

    Similarly, the Director, Schools Approval Unit, Mrs. Kehinde Ogunlana, acknowledged the cooperation of the new proprietors during the approval process and urged them to remain compliant with OEQA standards.

    Responding on behalf of the recipients, one of the school proprietors, Mr. Mustapha Adewunmi Waheed, expressed gratitude to the State Government for its supportive policies.

     He pledged that the schools would continue to deliver quality education that meets both national and international benchmarks.

    The highlight of the event was the formal presentation of provisional approval certificates to the new school owners by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, the Coordinating Director of OEQA, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Opeyemi Eniola, representatives of SUBEB and the Examinations Board, among others.

  • Concerns over private schools’ exorbitant fees

    Concerns over private schools’ exorbitant fees

    There are growing concerns over what has been termed “extortion” of parents and guardians by private schools which charge huge amounts for extracurricular activities, VICTORIA AMADI reports

    Some schools, especially private schools, are forcing parents to pay exorbitant fees for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) preparations without anything to show for it. Some schools are also forcing parents to pay for testimonials, parties and graduation’s ‘Aso-Ebi’ (occasion uniform) for pupils and parents. Some schools are charging pupils and parents between N200,000 and N450, 000 for the graduation’s ‘Aso-Ebi’.

    The increase in commercialisation of education and prioritisation of profit over quality education has resulted in overcharging of parents and caregivers by some school owners. However, the rising cost of living has made it impossible for some parents to meet up with the demands of the schools, thereby mounting financial burdens on families.

    This practice has created a gap between those who can afford private education and its cost, and those who cannot. Some of the schools employ these channels to extort money from parents, aside the termly school fee, science lesson, weekend lesson and extra lesson payments, thereby creating more burden for parents.

    Notwithstanding, some private schools owners claimed they charge fees that are commensurate with the services they provide.

    Parents react

    According to a parent, Mr. Ikechukwu Onwuchekwe, extra money schools charge for JAMB and SSCE are for logistics; such as taking the children to JAMB centres. He added that the extra money is not bad, as he would prefer to pay for services than carry them himself.

    “Those extra money are made for that. I don’t think the extra money is bad, but too much of it is bad. Some people charge three times the original amount for JAMB.

    “In Nigeria, you have to use money to get things done as far as you can afford it. As a parent, since I can’t take my child to his JAMB centres, stay there for almost the whole day and I have somebody that can do it for me, I will pay the person,” he said.

    Another parent, Mr. David Agbi, said that it is a rip-off of the parents, noting that at the end of the day, there’s no significant thing to show for the money paid. He opined that the organisers of JAMB lessons are taking advantage of parents who want their children to crawl without walking. He urged the government to close schools extorting parents.

    Mrs. Irabor Ronke said: “My son’s school includes exam preparation as part of their normal academic programme. There’s no special or separate fee for JAMB or WAEC coaching; it’s all together. If any school is charging for something, they should clearly show the value. In our case, I’m satisfied because everything is upfront and transparent. The school has kept things simple. For graduation, they asked us to contribute modestly toward a small ceremony, but there was no mention of Aso Ebi or flashy expenses. I think they’re being very considerate of the times we’re in.”

    Giving a first-hand experience, Mr. Ayinde Tijani, whose son recently wrote the JAMB examination and is about to sit for WAEC, lamented over his son’s poor performance after paying so much for his extra lessons.

    Read Also: Unregistered private schools risk sanctions, says Lagos govt 

    Tijani noted that there is no such thing as Aso- Ebi levy, but were made to pay N30,000 for his son’s graduation party.

    Mrs. Zainab Shakiru, a parent of a Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1), said some schools are mounting financial pressure on parents and creating unhealthy competition among students who would want to feel among those wearing Aso Ebi attire.

    A pupil’s grouse

    A SS3 student, Dorcas Israel, who just wrote JAMB and is preparing for WAEC and NECO, revealed that they were asked to pay over N50,000 for JAMB and SSCE coaching classes.

    However, she noted that the quality of the extra classes is not different from their usual school lessons, stating that sometimes their teachers don’t show up on time.

    “My school organised weekend and evening lessons and they give us past question booklets. The effort is there, but I still feel like we are doing more reading at home than in school. Some of us even pay for extra lessons outside school.

    “We were also mandated to buy Aso Ebi for both students and parents, pay N15,000 for a party, and another N5,000 for testimonial. My mum is not happy about it at all because things are hard and we are five children in school.

    “We were also mandated to pay for graduation. But some of my classmates have already said they won’t attend because their parents can’t afford it. It’s sad because it makes us feel like only the rich students can celebrate,” she explained.

    NAPPS: We won’t condone exploitation of parents

    The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) Nigeria stated that irrespective of the economic strain, it would not condone parents’ exploitation by schools under its umbrella. It said other fees aside from school fees should not be imposed on parents in a worrisome manner, adding that schools must be guided by the principles of fairness, empathy and accountability.

    Its National President, Chief Yomi Otubela, urged parents to always engage constructively with school managements, noting that education is a shared responsibility, and it is only through mutual understanding and collaboration between schools, parents, and communities that would help successful navigation of challenging times.

    “Private schools, in particular, which receive no government subvention, are struggling to maintain standards in teaching, learning resources, staffing, infrastructure and student welfare. As a result, some of these costs are inevitably passed on to parents to keep schools operational.

    “However, while we recognise these financial pressures, NAPPS Nigeria does not in any way condone the exploitation of parents. We strongly advise that fees for external examination preparations, graduation ceremonies, Aso Ebi, testimonials, and related events should never be imposed in a burdensome manner. Such charges must be clearly communicated and handled with sensitivity and flexibility. The school should work with the Parents Teachers Association in arriving at the best decisions that meet each school’s circumstances,” he said.

    NAPTAN urges PTA to speak up

    The Deputy National President of National Parent Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, advised Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to express themselves through the forum. And if their voices are not heard, they should write to the Ministry of Education.

    “Every school has a PTA. The PTA should meet and condemn it. And if the school insists, they should go to the ministry to report the school. Because, there’s no way they will do that without a formal meeting of parents. If the schools prescribe and they pay, so be it. Schools are there for profit, but they should not exploit them. For us, the PTA has a lot of strength to report to the school principal. If he or she refuses, they should go to the ministry,” he said.

    Our views, by school owners

    Reacting to the issue, the Director, Platform Group of Schools, Dr. Adebola Obe, urged school owners to prioritise affordability, transparency, and fairness in their fee structures by clearly outlining what fees cover and providing options for families to choose from. Obe added that schools can help ensure that fees are reasonable and justified.

    He added that while private schools have a right to charge fees that cover their costs, they should do so in a way that is fair, transparent and reasonable. “By working together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable education system that benefits all students, regardless of their background or financial situation.

    “Private schools often provide high-quality services that justify the costs associated with them. These services include employing experienced and qualified teachers, maintaining small class sizes, and providing state-of-the-art facilities. Additionally, private schools often offer personalised attention and support to students, which can be instrumental in their academic success.

    “However, it is essential for schools to be transparent about how fees are used and to ensure that they are reasonable and justified. In this regard, I strongly believe that charging N450,000 for Aso Ebi for pupils and parents, testimonials, and other graduation-related expenses is excessive and unreasonable. Whilst celebrations are important, they should not place an undue financial burden on families,” he said.

    Principal, Mind Builders School, Mr. Adekunle Agbelu, described the practice as a strange one, adding that he had never experienced it.

    “I have witnessed graduation ceremonies where students choose the colours of their suits themselves. I do not support the idea of schools charging exorbitant fees for such events. In my school, the only form of preparation we offer for SSCE is free extension classes focused on academic support.

    “It is also worth noting that some parents actively seek opportunities to celebrate, and they may view these elaborate arrangements as part of the celebration. Unfortunately, this mindset can be exploited by some schools, which see it as an avenue to impose excessive charges and profit at the expense of families,” he said.

    Govt cannot interfere in activities of private schools

    But, the Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Kayode Sutton, said government does not have full jurisdiction over the affairs of private schools, except on issues affecting curriculum and maltreatment of students.

    “Private Schools are choice schools. We don’t dive into their affairs. The rules and regulations in those schools are binding on parents. They’re there to make profit and deliver services. They’re privately owned schools. As a government, we can’t dive into the private affairs of those schools, except if it has to do with curriculum or maltreatment of students and other things that affect the psycho motor, cognitive and the affective learning of those students,” he said.

    Expert: close monitoring, regulation imperative

    According to an educationist, Dr Ibrahim Mikailu, there is need for more regulation of the activities of private schools by relevant departments of state Ministries of Education. He added that there should be standards in fees for established services like UTME and SSCE.

    “Similarly, there should be regulation around birthdays, cultural days, excursions and graduation on the accompanying burden they bring such as  Aso Ebi, which bring untold cost financial hardship to parents. Beyond regulation, proprietors of private schools need to be engaged through workshops and training to understand the implications of such practices,” he said.

  • Lagos private schools proprietors’ executives preach unity at swearing in

    Lagos private schools proprietors’ executives preach unity at swearing in

    The newly-elected President of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos State Chapter, Chief Owolabi Alaka Yusuf, has urged members of the association to be united to enable them develop it together.

    Alaka Yusuf spoke recently at the swearing-in ceremony of new executive members of the association held at the Megalite Events Centre, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    He appreciated the efforts of the immediate past president, Chief Olawale Amusa, who, during his tenure, was said to have demonstrated professional and resolute leadership qualities in management of the association.

    Alaka Yusuf said: “Having served as an executive under the leadership of Chief Amusa, no doubt, I have acquired immeasurable skills, which will be instrumental as tools of dispensing my duties, as the new president of NAPPS Lagos State.”

    He explained that he is more concerned and intends focusing on strengthening the structure of private schools in Lagos State.

    “The channel of achieving this objective is the planned training for teachers in private schools under NAPPS Lagos State. “We will focus on ensuring that our teachers are equipped with  adequate and qualitative skills that include training on various aspects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT),  employing modern, updated teaching methods to groom pupils; strengthening the already existing working relationship with schools in Europe, America, Asia and Africa.

    Read Also: Abia govt shuts 197 ‘substandard’ private schools 

    “Such international links will help the students in Nigeria to acquire new knowledge and develop skills that will enable them think global, yet able to apply the international knowledge that will enable them develop intellectual prowess to enable them compete effectively in their future academic and working career,” he said.

    The new president also stressed the need for vocational training for pupils to enhance and compliment the mainstream academic subjects taught in schools.

     He described the upcoming teachers’ training as avenue of strengthening their teaching methods, which will contribute to boosting their level of professional development and in turn translate into improving the qualities of pupils that their schools produce.

    He said: “In order to achieve this, we will establish our proposed Teachers’ Institute that will empower our educators, by providing them with the necessary resources that will enable them to achieve excellence in their profession. In the long run, such effort will translate into productive investment for the future career of our pupils as well as providing a strong platform for improving the quality of our society.”

    Amusa, while handing-over to Alaka Yusuf, reassured the school proprietors under Lagos State NAPPS that he could comfortably assure them of excellent values of leadership that the new president would demonstrate during his tenure.  

  • Abia govt shuts 197 ‘substandard’ private schools 

    Abia govt shuts 197 ‘substandard’ private schools 

    Abia State Government has shut 197 ‘substandard’ private schools as part of its efforts to reform the education sector.

     Information and Culture Commissioner Okey Kanu said this when he addressed reporters at the Government House, Umuahia on the outcome of yesterday’s state Executive Council meeting.

     He said about 900 private schools had been inspected in the ongoing inspection of private schools.

     Kanu said the exercise followed government’s resolve to improve the standard of education.

     He also spoke on government’s plan to fix internal roads in the major cities, saying Ministry of Works had been directed to undertake the task.

     Commissioner for Health Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo said over 8,000 people had received free medicare under the free medical services offered by the government.

    Read Also: Tinubu committed to improving lives of vulnerable communities – Shettima

     She said government had begun to retrofit Cottage Hospital in Aba, to enhance its capacity, adding that it would soon be reopened.

     Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Commissioner Uzo Nwachukwu said government had appointed Transition Committee (TC)  chairmen, deputy chairmen and councillors for the 17 local governments.

     He said individuals with the capacity to deliver the rebuilding agenda of the current administration were selected to do the job.

     Nwachukwu said TC members were entitled to statutory six months tenure and that by reviewing the law, their tenure could be extended.

  • 500,000 uniforms for pupils in Cross River

    •Public, private schools benefit

    •Ayade plans to set up shoe factory

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has donated over 500,000 uniforms to public and private schools under the Ayade School Uniform Programme.

    The governor has said the government will set up a shoe manufacturing factory.

    He made the presentation shortly after opening the 56th Annual Meeting of the Nigeria National Committee of West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) at the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar, yesterday.

    According to Ayade, the gesture was in fulfilment of his promise to the pupils two years ago.

    His words: “Let me announce to you that this is a product of the Cross River State garment factory. Five hundred thousand uniforms donated for free to pupils in Cross River public schools and I have directed that private schools should be given 10 per cent of these uniforms.”

    The governor, who said he was focusing on primary schools pupils, hinted: “We are focusing on the young pupils and that is why I thought it wise to do this presentation today. We intend to dress them properly and let me inform you that our shoe factory is coming up soon where we intend to produce school sandals and present same free to them to build their confidence and make them see themselves as equal to those in the private schools.”

    While urging WAEC to proffer solutions to the fallen standard of education, Ayade reasoned: “Society has moved so fast and education cannot catch up at the speed because of wrong educational structure and so, WAEC has to restructure its syllabus, especially in line with current realities.”

    The governor enjoined the body to realise that there was need  for a paradigm shift from the conventional question setting for knowledge testing to practical implementation of knowledge.

    Read also: Cross River indigenes relish financial freedom

    “…I challenge this committee to restructure our curriculum to reflect the quality of our youths because if we must get it right, it must start at that level,” the governor said.

    Chairman of WAEC’s Nigeria National Council Dr. Lami Amodu praised Ayade for the development that placed Cross River as one of the fastest industrialising states.

    Thanking the government for supporting the body over the years, Amodu said with its investments in the sector, as well as the governor’s interest in education, Cross River would soon be on top of the global map.

    Her words: “…let me state that your warmth and passion to education is infectious. I wish to thank you for the approval you gave for the donation of two pick up vans to WAEC office, Calabar, to assist the council in serving the state better.”

     

     

  • Obaseki’s Education reform gains ground

    ….As Parents move wards from private to public schools

     

    Few weeks into the implementation of the Edo State Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) initiative by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration, parents and guardians in the state have begun withdrawing their children and wards from private schools and moving them to public schools.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education and Acting Chairman, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, said parents and guardians are impressed with the improved technology-based teaching method in the pilot public schools across the state, and are withdrawing their children from private to public schools.

    She also said that parents and guardians who visited their wards and children during the Open Day programme, the first of its kind in public schools, shared their excitements about the initiative.

    Read Also:Obaseki orders closure of all dilapidated schools

    According to Dr Osa Oviawe, “The Open Day is part of the Edo BEST initiative to connect the curriculum, classroom and community.”

    The Acting SUBEB Chairman disclosed that “Edo SUBEB Staff from Quality Assurance, School Support Services and Social Mobilisation departments and their counterparts in the 18 Local Government Education Authorities (LGEA) went round Edo BEST pilot schools in the state to monitor the implementation of the initiative.

    “Parents and guardians of pupils in public primary schools all over the state expressed gratitude to Governor Obaseki for the transformative Edo-BEST initiative, saying that they are impressed with the new development as it informs them of their child’s progress thereby creating an opportunity for them to assist the child to succeed academically.”

    Osa Oviawe said that “a parent who gave his name as Mr. Ohenhen, told government officials that when he discovered that teachers  now use technology to deliver lessons in public primary schools, he withdrew his children from private school and registered them in Oba Ewuare Primary School,  Ugbowo, in Egor Local Government Area of the state.

    “He further stated that he was highly impressed with the State Government’s Basic Education Sector Transformation initiative, because his children’s literacy skills have improved over the short period of Edo BEST launch.”

    On the Open Day, Dr Osa Oviawe said: “Mrs. Alice, a guardian of a pupil in Eguare Primary School, Ewohimi, in Esan South East Local Government Area,  said the open day exercise is first of its kind in the history of the state noting that Edo BEST Programme keeps introducing modern initiatives into the school system, and that her ward have become zealous in all aspects of life as she can now communicate verbally with spoken English.”

    Osa Oviawe also shared the experience of Mr. Akhimie, the father of a pupil at Obe Primary School Sabongidda-Ora, Owan West LGA.

    She quoted Mr Akhimien as saying, “the open day exercise has brought back hope as he sees his child becoming a future leader because of his positive attitude towards doing school assignments at home. My child can now identify letters and their sounds.”

    According to a teacher, Mrs. Elizabeth Anozie, “the open day was a huge success, parents came to inspect their wards’ books. They were happy, they asked me questions and I responded.

    “They were pleased, even the pupils were filled with joy when they saw their parents trooping in.”

    The Acting SUBEB Chairman assured that “Edo SUBEB is gearing up to add more schools to the Edo BEST programme in the next academic year, starting in September 2018.”

     

  • ‘Private schools should not pay Land Use charge’

    The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos State chapter, wants the Lagos State government to exempt its members from paying the Land Use charge.

    Its President, Alhaji Wasiu Olaitan Adumadeyi, said in an interview that the body had presented its request for exemption to the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    He argued that private school  deserved to be exempted because they provide a social service to the society.

    “We want the government to see private schools as offering a social service and they are not supposed to be paying sundry expenses like taxes,” he said.

    Adumadeyi said contrary to the belief that schools make profit, they actually make enough to operate as they are not purposely established for profiteering.

    He urged the Nigerian government to emulate foreign countries like Canada that fund private education.

    “What we are making is what will help to run the organization and pay bills.  In Canada private schools are given subventions and grants and they are not taxed.

    “If some other countries can do that, it is not too much for its to ask for exemption.  We are not asking for exemption from income tax and annual dues. We pay those,” he said.

    Adumadeyi nevertheless praised the Lagos State government’s language policy, saying the association was adapting Wednesday as its local language day.

    However, the NAPPS President expressed concern about dearth of Yoruba teachers, urging the government to address the issue.

    “When we met the Deputy Governor we advocated that teacher education should be encouraged. The major area we have problem is Yoruba teachers because people don’t go to study those courses again.  We have told the Deputy Governor that government should enact a policy that will encourage students to go and study those courses that are lacking in the teaching profession,” he said.

    Giving a scorecard of his achievements six months after his inauguration (December 8, 2017), Adumadeyi said his team of executives had re-united warring factions; organized regular central working committee meetings; conducted unified examinations; set up an elders’ council made up of elderly NAPPS members to provide advice; inaugurated boards/committees like inter-governmental/disciplinary committee etc to address specific issues; earmarked funds for construction of NAPPS secretariat; among others.

    Regarding the secretariat, Adumadeyi said in six month they had set aside N6 million raised from programmes organised by the association.

    Attesting to the quality of the unified examination, Adumadeyi said NAPPS now offered schools better means of assessment at an even cheaper rate.

    “Our vision is to have our private schools operating a very high standard.  And this was why came up with the unified exams so that private schools in Lagos State will do one single exam.  The advantage of this is instead of individual schools doing their pockets of exams, we bring about one standard exam that is to be set by professionals; and examined by professionals.

    “We had this exam last term and it was very successful.  Even though we did not have 100 per cent participation, we had a high percentage of schools coming in to do this exam.  This exam has been adjudged as a better examination for private schools – even economically it becomes cheaper for the schools because of the large production,” he said.

  • Huge room for private schools to thrive in Nigeria, says ex-VC

    • School unveils founder’s bust

    Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof Rahamon Bello has said opportunities will abound for private schools to thrive in the next 50 years in Nigeria.

    He said this on Monday while delivering a lecture to mark the 50th anniversary of Grace Schools Gbagada, Lagos.

    Speaking on the topic: “Private Education in Nigeria: Sustainability in the next 50 Years”, Bello said the inadequate number of public primary and secondary schools, especially in Lagos State, as well as the challenge of poor quality were gaps private schools could fill.

    He also said private providers of education could seize on the shortage of secondary schools to provide both academic and quality vocational and entrepreneurial skills which employers will appreciate.

    “The demand for private education rather than wane in the years ahead is likely to multiply. The public sector is unlikely to have all the resources needed to meet the demands of the 6-3-3-4 policy on education. The private sector investment in private education is very substantial and will continue to increase and as such cannot be ignored by government as it is supplementary. Governments must therefore fine tune their strategies on regulation through monitoring and inspection,” he said.

    It was not all about the lecture alone. The programme also featured the unveiling of a bust in honour of the school’s founder, Mrs Grace Oshinowo by the Representative of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Lola Adegbite, as well as a huge banner containing the names of all alumni who completed their primary education in the school.

    Other highpoints were the cutting of the anniversary cake, the introduction of the first registered pupil of the school, Mrs Grace Ogunwo, and special presentations by the pupils including a poem recitation in Mandarin.

    In an interview, Mrs Ogunwo told The Nation that she learnt a lot as a pioneer pupil of the school under Mrs Oshinowo, who was also her aunt.

    “She was a disciplinarian. She liked education and because of the Motto of the school ‘God First’. She instilled moral values.

    “The experience really made me a strong woman. I was a Banker for 18 years, I am now a trader. That spirit that she instilled in me is still working,” she said.

    Founder of St Bernadette Educational Services, Mrs Clementina Doregos, praised the late Mrs Oshinowo for her values.

    “The founder of Grace School Chief Mrs Oshinowo was a mentor. We were in the same Early Childhood Organization. She was an officer there. We used to come to her school. She will entertain us at the meeting. There was nothing you asked of her as regards education that she will not tell you. She is very friendly, takes us like her children and tells us a lot of things,” she said.

    On her part, the school’s administrator and founder’s daughter, Mrs Olatokunbo Edun, attributed the school’s success in 50 years to her mother’s discipline, focus and succession planning.

    “We live in a country where most businesses do not even survive up to 10 years but we have been able to survive for 50 years so we every reason to glorify God.

    “I have been in charge officially for 35 years. When I was at the university and secondary school I used to work here.  My mum was a disciplinarian. You have to be of excellent behavior. She was very focused; she was not a wasteful person. So I learnt all that from her to be disciplined,” she said.

  • DEEPEN seeks empowerment for low cost private schools

    DEEPEN seeks empowerment for low cost private schools

    One of the problems faced by private schools, especially low cost schools, is limited access to finance, which often militates against quality education delivery.

    This was the thrust of presentations at a finance forum organised by Developing Effective Private Education Nigeria (DEEPEN), a programme funded by UKaid, which focuses on improving the quality of education in private schools, with special attention on low cost private schools.

    The event titled “Schools as SMEs: Leveraging the market opportunities”, was held at Protea Hotel, Ikeja.

    The team leader, Gboyega Ilusanya, said  researches conducted by DEEPEN showed that over 70 per cent, amounting to  1.4m children in Lagos State, attend private schools, with 118,000 teachers being employed by these schools. Also, about 9,000 schools are unapproved, educating over a million children.

    He said it is pertinent to look at education support for these schools within the business environment in different perspectives; the rules and standard within which they operate, the policy framework which positively or negatively affects  them as a business, as well as whether those frameworks have negative impacts on them.

    He noted that if accessibility of funds was made easier, especially to low cost schools, they would in turn have a significant improvement in service delivery.

    “The challenges faced by the schools go beyond seeking government support. The issue of quality education has been a challenge, but the quantum of resources the government can provide is not enough for schools to get out of the vicious cycle of low-cost, and low quality that has been alleged, which often is not totally the case, and then moving forward to improving quality of learning among schools.

    “So, it is about getting a consensus, getting the private sector, the financial institutions to have insight into the thinking of the government around how to improve access to finance and loans for schools than leveraging the market opportunities,” he said.

    He continued: “There is a need to involve the private sector so that at the end, we are not just throwing money at the problem, but looking at the problems and solving them together, so that we will have a  long term stability.”

    The Special Adviser to Lagos State on education Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, explained that private schools represent a larger number in the state, with only 4,000 registered and 8,098 unapproved.

    He said the 60 per cent of unregistered schools pose a challenge to the state in ascertaining the quality of education being delivered as well as maintaining standards.

    Bank-Olemoh said the state Public Trust Funds can only be accessible by registered schools, which many have applied for, adding that  the state was doing its best to address school deficit by locating those areas that are in need of schools.

    National Secretary, Association For Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Mr Kalu Orji, noted that many low cost schools are faced with government’s draconian policy such as registration and getting approval, adding that the scenario is further worsened by the perception of low cost schools by financial institutions as ‘highly risky’, and making the latter to be unwilling in giving out loans to them.

    Orji urged the government to review the policy framework to accommodate these schools to operate effectively, as against the general framework for all levels of private schools.

  • ‘State, private schools not in luxury contest’

    ‘State, private schools not in luxury contest’

    The Lagos State government has said its schools are not in competition with privately-owned schools for the provision of luxury education.
    Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Education, Adesegun Ogundeji, said the government was careful to invest its resources to guarantee the highest quality education for all learners, irrespective of their social classification.
    Ogundeji stated this in response to a newspaper publication (not The Nation) which compared a privately-owned school, Grace Schools, Gbagada, with its state-owned neighbour, Gbagada Primary School.
    He said: “There is a need to educate the public that the difference in physical structure of both schools does not deduct from quality delivery of the latter because quality education is not about luxury, affluence, aesthetics but impactful teaching and learning.”
    Ogundeji said the Akinwunmi Ambode administration provides free education to over one million pupils in 1,010 primary schools, 670 junior and senior secondary schools and five technical and vocational schools across the state.
    He listed achievements recorded by public schools to include overall best state at a national Robotics Competition and qualification to represent Nigeria at the World Robot Olympiad in New Delhi, India.
    Ogundeji added: “The Lagos State Science Competition team emerged the overall ‘Best State Team’ at the 2016 National Festivals of Science Competition and represented Nigeria at the 2016 International Science Exhibition Fair (ISEF) in Arizona, USA last May.