Parents are calling on proprietors of private schools and colleges to apply for accreditation as the state’s education ministry discovers only 266 of about 600 are certified
The Borno State ministry of higher education, science, technology and innovation has ordered all private schools and colleges operating in the state to apply for accreditation or they risk closure on October 31.
The ministry reviewed the guidelines for the establishment and operation of private schools and colleges and issued accreditation and re-accreditation forms to new and existing private schools and colleges.
During the process it was discovered that only 266 of about 600 private schools and colleges in Borno State were accredited and certified.
Fatima Umar Mustapha, whose three children attend D’Littles International School in Maiduguri, told RNI that she became worried when she did not see its name on the list of accredited schools.
“But the school proprietor sent all parents an email stating that we should not panic and that she had already submitted all the requirements. Her message brought us some peace of mind,” Fatima said.
Zarah Shettima, who has two children attending the Khalid Bin Walid Islamic School, said: “The new term is just beginning and we have already paid our children’s school fees and bought other necessary items.
“Now the school is at risk of closure if the proprietor has not sent the documents needed for accreditation. We checked the list of schools and saw that the Khalid Bin Walid Islamic School was not one of the accredited 266 schools. I hope that the proprietor will do something about this before the end of October. At this stage we cannot afford to transfer our children to another school.”
Abubakar Adamu, a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, highlighted the importance of accreditation and why all schools, both private and public, should be accredited learning institutions.
“Accreditation is a legal requirement that must be adhered to by private and public schools and colleges. Accreditation allows the government’s education ministry to ensure everything needed is in place, including school infrastructure, content, the correct syllabi, books and the necessary equipment, as well as all the teachers’ qualifications.
“An accredited school provides quality education and this will be evident and reflected in the way in which pupils study and understand. The pupils’ learning should testify to the high quality standards of a school and reflect its accountability. Accreditation makes it easier to transfer a pupil to a new school. And accreditation also provides access to federal and state funding.”
When asked, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools refused to comment.
FALMATA MOHAMMED ALI
