Uniform Standards: Private Schools must comply with Govt approved curriculum says Education Commissioner

DDM NEWS

Professor Ikegwuoha

The Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary) in Imo State, Professor Bernard Thompson Ikegwuoha has made it clear that his ministry would henceforth ensure that all private schools must comply with government approved curriculum.

Adding that they must use recommended textbooks and observe public holidays so as to ensure uniform standards in the state school system.

This is even as Commissioner Ikegwuoha expressed deep appreciation to Governor Hope Uzodinma for finding him worthy to return to the ministry for a second time.

He described him as the Education and Infrastructure Governor of 2025.

Ikegwuoha recalled that he was the maiden commissioner in charge of the ministry between 2020 and 2021, before the state executive council then was dissolved.

Professor Ikegwuoha who made the disclosure Tuesday, during an interview with newsmen in his office, decried a situation where some private schools abandon government approved curriculum only to teach pupils and students whatever they like.

He emphasized that every government approved curriculum developed by experts in Nigeria’s education sector, must be used *to teach* in all schools irrespective of whether they are private, missionary or public.

He made it clear that missionary schools are categorized under private schools, and should therefore comply with government education policies and directives.

The commissioner equally made it clear that government approved textbooks and scheme be used in every primary or secondary school in Imo State, whether private or public.

And that it must be drawn from government approved curriculum, insisting that there has to be uniform standards in the state’s education system because most schools have their schools examinations, like WAEC, NECO, JAMB etc which are drawn from federal government approved curriculum.

“Education policies must be uniform whether in public or private schools.

That is the only way we can have standards across board. It can not be implemented haphazardly.

“While public primary and secondary schools are obeying and implementing these policies, private schools on the other hand do what they like.

“When I say private schools, they include missionary schools whether they are Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, and others that I categorize as missionary schools.

“They are private; and they must implement policies of government,” Professor Ikegwuoha explained.

He sounded it clear that all schools must observe government approved and declared *public holidays,.

Ccomply with 3PM officially approved school closing hour, as well as stick to uniform closing and resumption date in Imo State as announced by the state government.

Speaking further, Professor Ikegwuoha hinted that Governor Uzodinma has approved a more sophisticated verification exercise for teachers in the state’s school system which were
handled by the Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government.

He revealed that the verification exercise would be different from others in the past as it would incorporate the critical aspect of Facial Recognition of every teacher in the system.

Hinting that except Commissioner for Education, no staff of his ministry would have anything to do with the planned verification of teachers exercise to avoid conflict of interest

The Professor further revealed that the teachers would be verified in the schools where they teach as every teacher must be physically present, with all their certificates scanned into the system.

This is even as he also revealed that the picture of the physical structure or building of every school in the state would also be captured into the system and clouded for quick access or references in the future.

According to the commissioner, the inclusion of physical structures in the planned verification would enable the government get first hand information on the state of infrastructure and facilities in every Imo primary and secondary school, so as to ascertain “whether they have libraries, ICT, labs etc.

He made it point blank that “the most consequential certificate is First School Leaving Certificate;” and that teachers would be required to get a confirmation of their first school leaving certificates from the awarding authority with the payment of N1000 only.

“I’m aware that there have been verification exercises by previous administrations, predecessors and successors, what is different from this one is that for the first time, there will be facial recognition which cannot be manipulated.

The commissioner who expressed the dissatisfaction of his ministry at the mushrooming of unapproved schools in the state, further disclosed that his ministry has sent letters to the leadership of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, NAPPS, intimating them on the policies of his ministry.

Part of the said letter which was made available to newsmen read:

“Chairman/President,
NAPPS, Imo State Chapter;
Parents, Guardians and All Stakeholders in the Education Sector of Imo State;
General information for all Imolites:

“Please note that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will be enforcing the following policies that almost all private schools have been violating. They are:

“Abandonment of approved curriculum by Private Schools in place of their own curriculum. The idea of making use of photocopies of the curriculum is unacceptable.

“You should have already known by now that curriculum is drawn from the syllabus. ie syllabus – curriculum–scheme of work — lesson plan– lesson notes, then weekly records, tests, etc. So there’s a need for uniformity of standards

“Talking of uniformity, most private schools no longer use approved list of test books, which, of course, is very important.

Many private schools don’t even have them and do not see it as necessary.

“The Ministry will be going on monitoring and inspecting private schools to ascertain if private schools are keeping up with the rules, regulations, and law.

“The review will start from Nursery to Secondary schools’ levels. NAPPS must understand that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has the statutory right and responsibility to ensure that standards are maintained uniformly.

“There’s also the need for all schools, both public and private, to have their copies as it concerns them.

Approved textbooks at all levels should be part of the records of all private and public schools in Imo State.”

Professor who disclosed that he visited over 100 schools since his first appointment as Education Commissioner, emphasized that his ministry would monitor compliance with government policies by all public and private primary and secondary schools in Imo State.

He warned that disciplinary action would be taken against any school that violates the policies of the state government including strict adherence to government approved curriculum.

Textbooks, public holiday, official closing and resumption date and the 3 pm official closing hour for all primary and secondary schools must be observed.

On measures laid out by his ministry to tackle the issue of proliferation of Illegal schools, the commissioner said the state government is dismayed by the fact that illegal schools are popping up in every nook and cranny of the state.

He disclosed that the issue is also part of the letter his ministry wrote to NAPPS recently.

In the said letter, the commissioner said,
“Everywhere you go within and around Imo State, you would have witnessed several illegal schools, which can modestly be classified as mushrooms schools.

We are appealing to those schools that can meet the requirements for approval and licensing of their schools, to come forward and regularize their status, while those that do not meet the required standards will be denied accreditation and approvals.

To this end, the Monitoring Units of Quality Assurance (QA) and Universal Basic School Education (UBSE) will go to monitor and inspect all private schools in order to ensure that all private schools show the following documents:

“Approved License to operate private nursery, primary and secondary schools in Imo State (original copies only).

Renewal letters of previous approval letters (original copies only),
Registration receipts paid into TSA; Receipts of all approvals, renewals, and licenses paid into TSA, among others.

Written by Ebenezer Ojor

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