THE Lagos State Ministry of Education has pledged continuous support to private school owners and allied education service providers in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo gave the assurance at an interactive session with school operators and visitors at this year’s edition of Total School Support Exhibition (TOSSE) programme held at Oregun in Ikeja recently.
The commissioner was at the event with the permanent secretary of the ministry, Mrs Abosede Adelaja; chairman of Lagos State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mrs Elizabeth Ariyo; member of board of the state Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Mrs Idowu Sijuade; director-general, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, among others with each of them giving insights into their activities and also responding to participants’ questions as applicable to their offices.
Mrs Adefisayo acknowledged the roles of private educators, particularly at primary and secondary levels in the state, saying the roles are crucial to the development of the sector and commendable.
She however cautioned them to always comply with government laid down rules and regulations guiding their operations.
According to her, it is only when someone does not want to follow the rules and due process that would want to cut corners to gain undue advantage.
While also counselling parents not to rush their children to secondary school without completing six years of primary education stipulated by the National Policy on Education (NPE), she said experiences had shown that children who jump classes notwithstanding being brilliant usually find it difficult to cope in classes beyond their ages.
“So, I’m appealing to secondary schools especially the private–owned not only to stop admitting underage children but also to counsel parents on the danger of rushing their eight or nine-year-old children to secondary school,” she stressed.
Mrs Adefisayo said the state government would, on its part, continue to improve schools infrastructure, teachers’ welfare, curriculum, e-teaching and learning in all public schools and also ensure to get out- of-school children off the streets into classrooms.
Speaking on some complaints which include multiple-taxes and charges on school building integrity test, the commissioner said negotiation would soon be rounded off with the state ministry of finance to fine-tune all the payable taxes and levies by school owners.
She explained that the window for free service on materials testing for new school buildings had been closed and that such service is now being rendered at a cost that is friendly.
In her remarks, the convener of the annual exhibition and CEO of Edu Consult, Mrs Yinka Ogunde, said TOSSE is a platform to interface between the private sector participants and government and that the progranmme, which is 13th edition this year, is yielding great results.
Some of the participants told Nigerian Tribune that they are always looking forward to the event as they use it to showcase their products and services to the public.
One of the schools, Wesley School 1 and 2, for the hearing impaired, Surulere, for example, showcased some of the handwork items including Adire fabric, sandals, sleepers, wall frames, flowers and so forth.
A teacher from the school, Mr Olajide Adeniyi, said the students produced those items outside their academic work for commercial purpose.
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