Africa-Press – Nigeria. The Ebonyi State chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools have appealed to the state government to give them twelve months window grace to enable them meet up with the criteria set for school standardization in the state.
Briefing journalists in Abakaliki on Tuesday, the state chairman of the association, Mr Felix Nomeh said the association is discussing with the government following recent educational reforms to ensure quality education in the primary and secondary school system.
Nomeh who acknowledged the proactive measure the state government, taken through the state commissioner for Primary and Secondary education, Dr Donatus Ilang, emphasised that most of the policies and reforms in the state have been in existence but recalled that the serious nature it has taken under the present administration is tremendous.
He noted that the policies and reforms are good because they are aimed at ensuing standard of education in the state, to help Ebonyi children compete with their counterparts across the federation.
The state chairman also acknowledged that there is a proliferation of sub standard schools in the state, noting they exist more in faith-based establishments.
He decried the menace of quackery in the state’s school system, stressing that the association will align with the state government.
On the issue of closure of schools, the chairman said every sound mind should support the government’s decision to provide quality education with good environment for children but that the government should give them 12 months’ window grace to sit up.
He said, “We cannot blackmail or fight the government. The decision to appeal to the government for 12 months window grace is to enable those affected to meet up with criteria the government sets for them.
According to him, “the appeal is still ongoing, we can’t fold our hands as a body, he contended.
The chairman also requested the government to consider any school that has secured land and has done meaningful or appreciable development in the school.
Again, he said that secondary schools that have received secondary establishment approval should be given automatic waiver to run primary schools because it is still the same segment of the 9,3,4, system of education.
Mr Nomeh used the opportunity to advise private schools proprietors to work hard and consult relevant authority in NAPPS in the process of procurement of adequate site approval and establishment with the ministry of education for possible inspection.
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