FCT EDUCATION SECRETARIAT SET TO CLOSE ILLEGAL SCHOOLS

Worried by the in­creasing number of illegally oper­ated primary and secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) the Depart­ment of Quality Assurance, FCT Education Secretariat is set to close illegally operated schools in the FCT.

The Education Secretariat yesterday commenced a sen­sitisation exercise to the pub­lic on the need to be wary of such schools, which ac­cording to it poses academic, emotional and psychological dangers to the pupils.

Leading a team of journal­ists on inspection of schools, Mr Didam told journalists that about 600 schools in the FCT lack basic or standard facilities for the academic growth of pupils.

Some of such schools visited yesterday were Ra­phil Nursery and primary School, Kado, Life Camp where about 25 to 30 pupils were cramped into one small classroom with a very poorly ventilated toilet.

Another was Destiny Nursery and Primary Inter­national School, Karmo by Mai Reke Junction. “We have six classrooms. I’m thinking of operating up to primary four,” Mr. Ebere Sunday told the journalists. “One pecu­liar case was in Fountain of Peace Nursary and Primary school, Tudun Wada where Nurseries 1 to 3 were in one class room while another portion of the church audi­torium was segmented into primary 1 and 2.

Other schools visited and issued warning of closure were Science and Wonders Academy in Tudun Wada, Winners Secondary school, Goodness Nursery and Pri­mary Academy, all in Tudun Wada where pupils were seen sitting on bare floor to learn.