Muslims who run primary and secondary schools in the country have intensified efforts at sanitising the educational system in the country.
They said this was necessary as a contribution towards making the sector globally competitive. The proprietors under the aegis of League of Muslim School Proprietors (LEAMSP) stated this at their luncheon programme held in Lagos last week.
They said they acknowledged the crucial roles the school operators would need to play in making the sector a proud of the nation, thus the reason for organising the forum. Delivering a lecture at the programme, Registrar of the Ansar-ud-Deen College of Education, Isolo, Lagos, Mr. K.O. Odelade said although, it was no longer news that the standard of every sector including education in the country is continually on downward trend, there was a great need to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
“And the roles of school owners in this regard is enormous since they are the ones training people who will later take leadership positions in every sector of the economy,” he pointed out.
“But it was disheartening that today, many school owners interested only in making money even at the expense of standards.” Odelade spoke on “Sanitising education system: Roles of school owners.”
According to him, proprietors of schools should be interested in making their institutions standard by putting up all necessary facilities and curriculum that will make their products globally competitive.
He also advised them to, among others always recruit qualified teachers and assign them to teach relevant subjects, pay them competitive salaries, as well as organising refresher courses for them periodically. “I will also implore you to have short, medium and long-term plans for your schools; always carry along the parentteacher forum in your activities, and also involve in community development projects as all these will help you greatly in the running of your schools,” he further counseled.
In her remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye commended the league for brainstorming on how to contribute to the development of education in the country.
She said the effort would greatly impact the system positively. Represented by a Director in the ministry in charge of Private Education and Special Programmes, Mrs. Sewanu Amosu, the commissioner promised that the government, especially Lagos State would continue to encourage private school operators in contributing to the development of the sector.
She also said the state would continue to run policy that would increase children access to basic education, noting that the importance of education to the country’s socio-economic development could not be under estimated.
On his part, the National President of the league, Mr. Mikail Tijani said the group would continue ensure that members engage in best practices. He also called on governments at all levels as well as other stakeholders to give deserved attention to education, saying the sector is the catalyst of development.
by TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE
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