Emmanuel OchayiIn a bid to elevate the standard of education and provide better learning opportunities for students across Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki held a closed-door meeting with representatives of various private school associations on Wednesday.
The gathering, which took place at the Government House in Benin City, aimed to forge a collaborative path towards improving educational outcomes in the state.
Addressing the private school operators, Governor Obaseki reiterated his government’s unwavering commitment to combating learning poverty and expanding access to inclusive, high-quality education. He emphasized the vital role that private schools play in achieving these goals.
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Several prominent associations participated in the meeting, including the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), the Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS).
Following the closed-door discussions, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, spoke on behalf of the governor.
She highlighted the government’s determination to create a favorable business environment for small and medium-scale enterprises, including private schools. Dr. Oviawe stated, “His Excellency listened to concerns and issues raised, and we came up with an agreement.”
Dr. Oviawe also revealed a pivotal step towards collaboration: “The immediate task on the part of the proprietors is to submit to the Directorate of Quality Assurance a list of their members. Before we start to discuss various issues raised, we want to know and benchmark their members, who are registered in Edo State. We aim to identify those providing a standard quality of education, those willing to improve, and those that need to raise their standards or reconsider their involvement in education.”
“The associations have promised that before Friday, September 15, 2023, they will submit the list of their members in Edo State,” Dr. Oviawe added.
Dr. Lemmy Russel, the State Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Edo State Chapter, expressed the private school operators’ readiness to enhance education quality in Edo State.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, “We just came out of a meeting with the governor and have agreed to work with the Ministry of Education and the Directorate of Quality Assurance. It’s our hope to work as a team.”
This meeting signals a fresh approach to improving education in Edo State, with both the government and private school operators committed to working together to uplift educational standards and create a brighter future for the state’s students.
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