Kaduna State Government has inaugurated a committee to develop a policy that will guide the operations of private schools in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the development of the policy is being supported by Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme, a seven-year Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office education programme.
Inaugurating the committee in Kaduna on Wednesday, acting Director-General, Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA), Hajiya Adama Wada, said that the move was to sanitise the operations of private schools in the state.
She said that the committee would act on behalf of KSSQAA in developing a policy that would ensure adequate regulation and minimum standard in all private schools across the state.
NAN reports that the committee will be co-chaired by representatives of the state government and the citizens, in line with the ‘Open Government Partnership’ principle of co-creation and co-implementation.
While the Deputy Director, Private School Department, KSSQAA, Hajiya Fatima Oneminute, was nominated government’s co-chair, Chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Kaduna State Chapter, Mr Ja’afaru Riyoji, will represent the citizens.
Also, Mr Ibrahim Nabayi, representing Parent-Teachers’ Association and Mrs Mercy Kude, Deputy Director, Public Schools, Ministry of Education, were nominated as co-secretaries.
Similarly, Mr Mohammed Ismaila of Bureau of Interfaith and Mr Philip Yatai of NAN were nominated as Public Relation Officers.
Presenting the terms of reference, Mr Mohammed Bello, Director, Private School Department, KSSQAA, said that the committee was expected to produce a draft policy that would be acceptable to all stakeholders.
He said that part of the committee’s responsibilities was also complete the draft policy between July and August and process it for approval between October and November.
Bello added that the committee would work with PLANE to carry out stakeholder consultations to generate relevant information and data for the drafting of the policy document.
“The committee will establish sub-committees to work on sections of the agreed policy framework, structure and template, and incorporate gender equality and social inclusion concepts into the policy.
“The committee is also expected to develop a work plan to produce the draft policy document and present it to KSSQAA and PLANE for review and inputs.
“It is also the responsibility of the committee to organise stakeholders’ review and validation of the draft policy, in collaboration with KSSQAA and PLANE,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the committee members, Oneminute thanked the state government and PLANE for the opportunity given to them to serve, pledged that the assignment would be delivered within the stipulated period.
Earlier, Mr Mubarak Siraj, State Reform Facilitator, PLANE, said that the programme was designed to invest in a more inclusive and effective education system in Nigeria.
Siraj said that the programme would be implemented in 734 schools across six local government areas of the state — Kaduna South LGA, 37 schools and Kaduna North LGA, 63 schools.
Others, according to her, are 100 schools in Jaba LGA, 189 schools in Sanga, 281 in Soba and 64 schools in Sabon Gari LGA.
He said that PLANE was aimed at supporting more inclusive and effective education system to deliver foundational skills, where state and non-state basic education providers would ensure better learning outcomes for school children, including the marginalized ones.
