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NUT Insists On Closure of Sub-Standard Schools

Leadership
Moses John
1st Feb. 2008

In its efforts to sanitise the education sector, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called for the closure of all illegal and sub-standard schools in Nigeria.

The union, however, commended the bold steps taken by the Lagos State government to sanitise the operation of the state education system, saying its recent closure of additional ten primary and post-primary schools by the state government increased the numbers of schools closed so far to 51.

NUT, in a statement signed by its secretary general, Obang I. J. Obong, and made available to LEADERSHIP in Abuja, said other states of the federation must emulate the steps taken by the Lagos State government to ensure total cleansing in the sector.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the union was also worried over the exploitation in the sector by what they described as quacks and unqualified proprietors who hardly have contract of employment to hire and fire at their discretion.

"For many years, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had been raising alarm over the undue proliferation of primary schools all over the country, through the construction of all manner of shanties, buildings under construction and sub-standard structures, some of which can hardly house a nuclear family into schools.

"It is appalling that most of these illegal schools recruit and maintain ill-prepared, unqualified and unprofessional teachers whom they exploit and pay peanuts. The level of exploitation of the teaching personnel is so high that they hardly have any contract of employment and are hired and fired at will, depending on the whims and caprices of the proprietors.

"The NUT therefore, calls on all state governments to emulate the steps being taken by Lagos State government by sanitising the educational system through regular inspections and standardised approvals".

Copyright © 2008 Leadership

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Group Backs Lagos Clampdown On Illegal Schools

This Day
Ndubuisi Ugah
27th Jan. 2008

Executive Director, Back to School Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Mr. Pat Anyadubalu yesterday, backed the Lagos State government's move to sanitise the education system, particularly in clamping-down on illegal public schools in the state.

In a statement made available to THISDAY, Anyadubalu said: "We welcome the on going clamp down on the illegal and sub-standard private schools in Lagos State by the Ministry of Education. It is a step in the right direction and should be pursued until all such illegal sub-standard schools are shut down".

He noted that "while we acknowledge the constitutional rights of citizens to disseminate information and impart knowledge, such right cannot be without an obligation to impart good and qualitative education, and the latter can only be ascertained through regulation by the relevant Ministry of Education."

Anyadubalu, who argued that "education is very important to the child and the society in general and no society will toy with it,", however, stated that "the clamp down should not be restricted to only unregistered schools but that the Ministry of Education should look into the relevant policies which establish them."

According to him, "the curricula of the schools ascertain their quality of education; thi also extends to physical structures and other facilities in the school, the academic qualifications and remunerations of the teachers and the level of discipline in the school. Some school authorities are alleged to even aid the students in examination malpractices to "justify" their expensive school fees. "be examined".

While urging the Ministry of Education to ensure that public schools are revamped extensively, Anyadubalu said "if the public schools are better, then the private school would have evaporated as parents and guardians would not patronize them since they charge higher fees but the reality on ground is that most parents and guardians would rather pay the suffocating school fees being charged in private schools than send their children and wards to public schools".

"It is pertinent to note that in some parts of the country, public schools are still fashionable and students who pass through the said public schools compete favourably with their counter parts from private schools.

"We subscribe to free and compulsory basic education, however, it is better to pay little to receive good and qualitative education than pay nothing and receive nothing. We deplore the state of affairs of some public schools which are not even good for poultry production however, we must state that we witness the renovation of some schools recently and we pray that the improvement be extended to all the schools in Lagos State", he added

Copyright © 2008 This Day

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm