Nigeria Content Online

In
the wake of last week’s accident involving tens of pupils of an
unregistered school in the state, the Ondo State government has
announced plans to tackle the spread of mushroom nursery and primary
schools in the state.

The State
Commissioner for Education, Adenike Fatogun, said at a news conference
in Akure on Monday that the state government was not happy with the
spread of illegal schools in the state and that new guidelines for
operators of private schools in the state have been finalised with a
view to reducing quackery in the educational system.

“The state
government could no longer fold its arms and allow mediocrity to ruin
the future of the pupils who are supposed to be the future leaders,”
Mrs. Fatogun said. “We are totally dissatisfied about the operation of
some nursery and primary schools in the state and that is why we are
reviewing the guidelines to make sure that they conform with the normal
standard obtainable in anywhere across the country.” An official of the
state Ministry of Education in Akure said no fewer than 200 unapproved
nursery and primary schools have been recommended for closure in the
state.

“Area Education
Officers (AEO) in the 18 local governments in the state have also been
directed to inspect all private schools in their jurisdictions and
verify whether they are registered with the state government,” he said,
speaking on condition of anonymity.

Packed like sardines

“The Education
Officers are also saddled with the responsibility of ascertaining
whether the facilities and environment where these schools operate meet
the required standard.” The Commissioner also said government would no
longer tolerate the way some schools load pupils inside the school
buses like sardines.

“Government will no longer tolerate the use of rickety buses to transport students to school.

We have discovered
that some schools packed pupils inside the school bus like sardines.
Such act is highly dangerous and needs to be tackled urgently,” she
said.

The Commissioner,
who also decried the way some school buses carry pupils to schools,
said she personally intercepted two school buses in Akure during the
week which were overloaded with pupils.

While advising
parents to be concerned about the security and welfare of their
children, Mrs. Fatogun warned that any private school in the state that
violates government’s directive will have its license revoked.

She disclosed that
the ministry will soon commence new registration of all private schools
in the state with a view to re-branding the educational sector and
identify quacks who only run schools for their selfish reasons.