The proliferation of substandard private schools in Gombe State is contributing to the decline in the quality of education. Presently, 320 private schools operate within the state, according to the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Gombe chapter.
A WikkiTimes investigation revealed that the Gombe state Ministry of Education, which is responsible for ensuring quality education in the state, has failed to enforce high standards of private schools in the state, despite a clear guideline.
WikkiTimes reporter who visited the ministry for the first time, requested a written requirement and guideline to establish a school. However, a Director at the Quality Assurance Unit (QA), who did not mention his name dismissed his request, saying he should go ahead to establish the school, as many proprietors don’t follow the guidelines and the ministry does not have a document in that regard.
A Director under the Quality Assurance unit, Yahya Yusuf said the ministry has for long turned a blind eye to most of the private schools that operate below standard.
“Some private schools fail to conform to the requirements provided by the ministry and the ministry has in turn grown indifferent by not compelling proprietors to adhere to such rules,” he said.
Guidelines for Operating Private Schools
In the reporter’s subsequent visits, an interview granted on condition of anonymity by one the unit directors, said there are guidelines even though it’s not documented.
He said the requirements include safe and serene location, proper infrastructure with provision for staff room, classes, offices, playgrounds and recreational area. There is also a need for well-ventilated classrooms with a maximum of 35-40 students in a class.
Sufficient teaching and non-teaching staff are also mandated, with a maximum of 35-40 students per class and teacher. At least 2 security guards are recommended, cleaners and nannies at nursery sections.
Also, there is a need for enough and qualified teachers (not less than NCE, from primary to JSS III), headmaster, education graduates or BA/BSc +PGDE for senior secondary schools.
The school should also provide statutory and non-statutory school records and other facilities including library and laboratory.
Poor Infrastructure
WikkiTimes visited some of the private schools in the state and observed that many schools operate below the standard as articulated by the director.
Most private schools in the states generally lack basic infrastructure. Yet all the five schools visited by WikkiTimes have never been sanctioned by the ministry, despite the obvious shortfalls.
The classrooms are poorly ventilated yet overcrowded.
Despite the glaring setbacks, some sources in the schools who spoke to WikkiTimes confirmed that supervisors in the quality assurance unit accept bribes from school operators to overlook those shortcomings.
WikkiTimes visited five schools in Gombe including Future Assured Academy at Nayi Nawa area, Hope Rising Academy at Bolari, Rahama International School at London Mai Dorawa, Al Bahrain International Academy at Tudun Wadan Pantami and Husna Model Academy.
The schools host most of its pupils in demarcated sheds made from metal zincs. The poorly ventilated classrooms are crowded with more than 40 students in a classroom and the premises lack spacious ground for recreational activities.
Despite the requirements outlined by the ministry, the schools also lack libraries and laboratories and there are no security guards to prevent unwanted guests from accessing the premises.
In an interview with one of the headteachers of the schools who did not want to be mentioned, she said despite the lagging condition of their school, the quality assurance unit during their few visits only acknowledged the short falls but never sanctioned them because they were offered bribes.
“They pay us a visit only once a year, but we were never given any feedback on our performance as a school. We know where we fall short, but we settle them with money. That’s how they operate.” he said.
Another source who also spoke on condition of anonymity also confirmed that the school has never been sanctioned despite their shortcomings.
The source called on the department to improve its frequency of visits, saying: “visiting schools once annually is not enough. Frequent visits would motivate school proprietors to improve their standard which will in turn benefit the students and pupils.” he said.
Speaking to another school proprietor who did not want his or the school’s identity mentioned, testified that the proprietors sometimes must bribe the quality assurance unit before they agree to come for supervision to a new school. This has made many schools operate without the knowledge of the ministry, he said.
Subsequent visits to other schools have also revealed similar deteriorating conditions. WikkiTimes was not granted interviews by a number of other private schools. However, pictures of the environment were taken to corroborate physical evidence.
Teachers Decry Poor Performance Too
Some teachers working in the schools have condemned the modus operandi in their places of work. The declining quality of education has wholly contributed to poor learning and teaching process, they said.
While some of them blamed this largely on maximization of profit by the institutions, some apportioned the blame to the negligent attitude of the government.
Muhammad Mukhtar Sani, a former teacher with Nurul Huda International Academy said: “Nowadays private schools are just mere money making investments. They are substandard because they lack good infrastructure, certified teachers, poor curriculum and poor monitoring and evaluation.”
“One of the consequences of it is that they produce half baked students that can neither read nor write. They also underpay their staff sometimes,” he added.
“The ministry of education should devise a means of standardizing private schools by issuing out a criteria for the establishment of private schools, not that I have two rooms, then I will start a school in it. The school must be well established. The teachers must be well trained and certified. The salary scale of the teachers must be in accordance with the state government’s own,” he concluded.
For Salis Ibrahim, a former teacher at Smart Academy, “Private schools nowadays are nothing but money making institutions that focus on what they gain not actually what they give out to the society. Most of them do not hire qualified teachers just to avoid expenses. You can see a highschool graduate teaching a highschool student. Some founders of the schools didn’t go through a formal higher education and they manage the business.
“My take is, since private schools must exist by law, due processes must be followed ranging from registration, approval and of course the ministry of education must know the in and out of the schools.
“But my greatest concern is, many inspectors are after money. You can get any clearance if you agree to pay money.”
Another class teacher, Abubakar Yakubu, blamed the declining standard on private schools being profit oriented.
He said: “This problem of poor standard in private schools continues to exist because most of them in Gombe prefer hiring unqualified teachers because they can’t afford to pay competent teachers. School owners today run schools for maximization of profit.
“But by embracing quality education, all these will not be tolerated. Also, there is the issue of lack of infrastructure and instructional materials. This leads to students graduating without achieving the set objectives of learning. The Gombe government needs to restructure how private schools operate and check them regularly.”
For Hafsat Abdullahi, a class teacher, individuality of learners is what suffers the most in this situation.
“Low standard system of education deprives teachers of teaching the learners effectively, especially for the fact that learners are different and require different teaching methods. But to achieve this, there must be an enabling environment for the teacher that offers the required infrastructure and instructional materials,” she said.
Similarly, Imran Abdullahi, another teacher, agonized over the increasing of sub-standard private schools in Gombe.
“We have private schools everywhere. Sometimes secondary school leavers are employed to teach secondaries, violating education ministry rules because the ministry is not vigilant enough.
“Eventually, they graduate students that find it difficult to cope in higher institutions because they have poor educational background despite the huge investment of parents.
He called on the government to raise the bar for private schools since the government cannot establish enough schools for the citizens.
Speaking to Students who shared their views on the operations of private schools in Gombe, Aliyu Waziri said it is the responsibility of the government to carry out serious supervision in private schools.
He said: “If the government fails to address the problems going on in private schools, we will keep facing challenges including poor management and lack of infrastructure.”
For Muhammad Karami, most private schools are profit-oriented and it is the duty of the government to make sure they meet high standard.
Fadimatu Usman also shares the same view, adding that poor education affects the overall development of students and their education.
“Private institutions are supposed to produce the best students because parents pay a lot of money to them. When they perform below standards, the overall academic performance of the students is affected, and it is unfortunate.”
Some non-teaching staff also shared their views on the matter. Ibrahim Abubakar, like many others, blamed the government for letting substandard schools operate in the state. He said most of these schools are staffed with unprofessional teachers.
“Government should ensure the qualifications of teachers, especially in private schools. Having competent teachers will save us a lot of stress in addressing this issue,” he said.
Hamza Adamu, a parent, also shares the same view, adding that “the reason why you see private schools everywhere in Gombe these days is due to the negligence of the government to check their standards.”
Furthermore, Muhammad Babayo, another parent, advised that the state ministry of education needs to review its approach to school supervision by shutting down schools that fail to meet the minimum standard.
“They should be vigilant enough to identify the bad eggs in order to save the future of our children.”
Ministry Acknowledges Problems, Denies Allegations
The Gombe state ministry of education spoke on the current state of the schools but did not admit to any of the allegations levied against them.
According to a Director at the Quality Assurance Unit, Yahaya Yusuf, who spoke for the quality assurance unit, he said the ministry is not aware of private schools operating below standard. He also claimed that the unit carries out constant supervision to schools.
“We take measures to improve school standards. We make observations and advise them. We also visit them regularly”.
Speaking further, he added that some schools commence operations without informing the ministry. But that does not incur sanctions on them. However, he added that the method of sanction employed by the ministry is to seize the certificate and license of schools found wanting.
When asked about how many schools have been sanctioned so far, he refused to respond, claiming that he has only been newly appointed to the seat
“We don’t know about the existence of some schools; we only find out through seeing their sign boards. We then visit them and encourage them to register to local education authorities. Most schools that don’t meet requirements do not register.
“Also, schools that register and have met the requirements, decline with time, because it takes effort to maintain the standard and only through visitation do we know if they are maintained.” he said.
This investigation is produced with support from the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project (CMEDIA) and funded by MacArthur Foundation
