By Sarah NEGEDU
At least 85 additional public and private schools, have been granted accreditation certificates that allows them operate within the Federal Capital Territory.
The Department of Quality Assurance of the FCT Education Secretariat, also granted provisional approval to 12 other schools which allows them time to meet up with the standards required to run a school in the FCT.
Speaking at a ceremony where accreditation certificate were presented to schools, the Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Mr. Olusade Adesola, hailed the complementary role private schools are playing in the provision of quality education to residents.
Adesola while commending private schools owners for their support towards the development of education sector in the territory, assured that FCTA will continue to provide enabling environment to operate and add value to the education system.
The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director, Human Resource Management, Dr. Muhammad Bashir, called on them to continue to operate within the confines of the law as the administration will not hesitate to sanction any erring school administrator.
The Secretary, Education Secretariat of the FCTA, Sani Dahiru El-Katuzu while granting the accreditation to schools, appealed to them to adhere strictly to the required minimum standards.
He said, “The use of these evaluators from a wide range of educational organizations is to ensure the credibility and transparency of the exercise and to adhere strictly to the required minimum standards.
“A total of 97 schools were assessed in the 16th batch accreditation, comprising of 10 public schools and 89 private schools. Out of the 97 schools, a total number of 85 schools measured up to the required standards and are those whose certificates we are officially presenting today. 12 schools got provisional approval and none of the schools was denied accreditation.”
The Secretary, while urging all private schools proprietors to continue to ensure compliance to minimum standards in their operations, and ensure the safety and protection of all learners under their care, added that accreditation exercise was no longer once a year, it is now quarterly.
Earlier in her speech, the Director, Department of Quality Assurance, FCT Education Secretariat, Mrs. Magdalene Uzoanya warned that pupils must complete primary six/ basic six so as not to be negatively influenced while in high schools.
“It is my fervent hope that schools comply with our earlier directive of the need for learners to complete primary six/basic six to avoid turning out under-aged students that can be easily negatively influenced. The above order is mandatory please, as defaulting schools will be sanctioned. She stated.