In what aims at creating opportunities for the enrolment of more children and advancing their educational career, Lagos has approved 80 more private schools in the state. A breakdown of the figure shows that 467 nursery/primary schools, 33 secondary schools and 1 vocational remedial school.
This is happening as the ministry of education is planning a review of existing guidelines for the establishment of private schools in Lagos.
There have been complaints over the years about the substandard schools in all corners of the state, some of which operate from makeshifts/shanties and residential buildings – lacking necessary facilities and qualified teachers to impact knowledge to the children.
But speaking last week at a media event to highlight her ministry’s programmes in the last one year, Olayinka Oladunjoye, the commissioner for education, said “we are in the process of coming out with reviewed guidelines on the establishment of private schools in the state.”
The commissioner further revealed that the government is also embarking on the grading of schools operating in the state, with the view to raising standards in terms of quality of teachers engaged by the schools, teaching aids and academic environment.
On the grading project, Oladunjoye said 600 schools had been registered, while 300 had taken off as pilot schools under the scheme. The scheme, she said, aims at giving the general public an insight into what obtains in each school, to enable them make informed decisions when it comes to choosing schools for their wards.
JOSHUA BASSEY
