A total of 140 public and private schools yesterday received certificates of accreditation, bringing the total number of accredited schools in FCT to 572.
Presenting the certificates of accreditation, Secretary, FCTA Education Secretariat, Sen. Isa Maina, explained that professional bodies were used in the selection process, so as to ensure transparency and credibility of the exercise.
Maina, added that the exercise involved “assessing the mission, goals, resource availability, performance and effectiveness of the school in relation to requirements of the National Policy on Education, and FCT Guidelines and the National Minimum Standards.”
He said the government also took into cognisance the evaluation of the schools in four thematic areas, including physical faculties and environment; staffing; and curriculum.
He added that other areas used in the evaluation are academic activities and support services as well as welfare.
According to him, all the schools offered certificates of accreditation “met those extant requirements during the 11th and 12th batches accreditation exercise which took place in September 2015 and September 2017.
“78 schools applied for accreditation in the 11th Batch out of which 61 schools were approved for full accreditation and 133 schools that applied in the 12th Batch, 79 schools were approved for full accreditation.”
However, Maina warned that the Administration would not rest until all illegal schools were completely shut down and possibly demolished, even as he warned those accredited to note that accreditation was not an end to itself but a licence to impact positive service in the development of the sector.
In a welcome address, Acting Director, FCT Department of Quality Assurance, Salihu Omehi Yahaya, stressed the imperative for schools to maintain their current standards which has earned them the accreditation.
Yahaya said the exercise provided the department “an opportunity for external assessment of the effectiveness of its advisory and other evaluation exercises in the schools.”
He therefore assured of the department’s commitment to improving the standards of education in Abuja.
Responding, President, FCT Chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private School, Olusola Bankole noted that the accreditation exercise was the fastest of all, expressing hope that subsequent ones would be faster.
She opined that all the private schools disregarding FCTA rules and standards were not members of NAPPS.
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