The Ebonyi State chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has appealed to the State government to give them a 12-month grace period to enable them to meet the criteria set for school standardization in the state.
Briefing jjournalists in Abakaliki on Tuesday, the state Chairman of the association, Mr. Felix Nomeh, said that the association is discussing with the state government, following the recent educational reform policies, which the government has taken to ensure quality education in the primary and secondary school system.
Nomeh, who acknowledged the proactive measures the state government has taken through the state Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr. Donatus Ilang, emphasized 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.
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He noted that the policies and reforms are good because they are aimed at ensuring a standard of education in the state, whereby Ebonyi children can compete favourably both within and outside the state with their counterparts in the federation.
The state chairman also acknowledged that there is a proliferation of substandard schools in the state, and they exist mostly in faith-based school establishments.
He decried the menace of quackery in the school system in the state, stressing that the association will align with the state government under Gov. Francis Nwifuru, whose one of his priorities is to provide qualitative education for Ebonyi children
On the issue of closure of schools, the chairman said every sound mind should support the government’s decision to provide quality education with a good environment for our children, but that the government should give them a 12-month grace period to sit up.
“We cannot blackmail or fight the government. The decision to appeal to the government for a 12-month window of grace to enable those affected to meet the criteria the government sets for them.
“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 an automatic waiver to run primary schools because it is still the same segment of the 9-3-4 system of education.
