Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has charged the Committee for Accreditation and Approval of Private Schools in Rivers State to embark on a comprehensive assessment of schools with the objective of reviving the standard of education.
Inaugurating the committee at the Government House Port Harcourt on Monday, Governor Wike said that the basic education level is important to the development of education.
He said: “I plead with you to be committed to delivering on this assignment because it is critical to the development of education in the state.
“I respect members of the committee and urge you not to allow anyone to offer bribes to you. How much can they give to you, that will convince you to mortgage the future of Rivers children?”
Governor Wike said the State Government is committed to ensuring that private schools are of approved standard , with the right facilities and qualified teachers.
He said that in carrying out the assignment, members of the committee should not be swayed by prominent persons, politicians and their relatives.
“There is nothing like party Chairman or party secretary in this assignment. In this assignment, you were not appointed by any other person. Therefore, you should be focused on assessing the schools and churning out credible reports “, he said.
He said that the State Government selected tested academics to carry out the assignment because it wants the right outcome.
Governor Wike said the administration jettisoned the use of the Ministry of Education because most private schools have contacts at the Ministry, where they compromise the accreditation and approval process “.
“We want the private schools to be of good standard. The committee should confirm the facilities at the schools and the qualification of the teachers.
“The committee must visit all the schools that have applied for accreditation. You have one month to complete this assignment and there will be no extension of time”, he said.
Committee for Accreditation and Approval of Private Schools in Rivers State (Rivers East), Prof. Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele thanked Governor Wike for setting up the committee to help improve the quality of schools in the state through the right accreditation scheme.
He said that the business of private schools has become an all-comer affair with the motive of profit making, while the quality of education suffers.
Prof. Ozo-Mekuri said that with 30 percent of the school enrolments, private schools should be programmed to deliver quality education to the people.
