Kwara government’s unending war against mushroom schools

Describing the Kwara state government’s fight against illegal schools as back to back, UMAR BAYO ADBULWAHAB in this piece observes that presently, the doggedness of owners of mushroom schools in the state gives the fight against them a semblance of war without end
Reminiscence In October, 2016 the Kwara state government shut down what it described as 88 ‘’mushroom’’ private Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools in the state even as it threatened to shut more.
The then state’s commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Musa Yeketi, announced the disclosure of the schools while delivering his address at the 2016 Day of the National Association of Proprietors of Private School held (NAPPS ) in Ilorin.
He appealed to schools that were still operating illegally to regularise their operation and those with substandard facilities to upgrade them or risk heavy sanctions from government.
The commissioner, who acknowledged the impact of private schools in complementing the state government’s efforts in the provision of qualitative education to children in the state, warned that “no school is above the law of the state”.
“We have some private schools with good infrastructural facilities, instructional materials, qualified personnel that meet international standards.
However, there are many of these private schools that do not in any way need quality standards.
Let me use this opportunity to appeal to such substandard schools to upgrade their facilities or face closure, all unregistered schools should regularise their status.
This is very important as it indicates that they are operating illegally which I believe we all know its implication.
Presently, schools with poor learning environment and those operating illegally, are being closed by the officers of Quality Assurance Beureau, the arm of the Ministry of Education and Human capital Development that is responsible for regulating the establishment of private nursery / primary and secondary schools for the purpose of ensuring compliance and adherence to quality standards.
Over 88 of them have been closed down”, the commissioner said.

Proprietors lament high taxation Speaking at the same occasion, National President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, (NAPPS) Dr Sally Adukwu-Bolujoko, had asked government at all levels to eradicate multiple taxation private schools were laden with.
Represented at the event by the association’s Financial Secretary, Temitope Ajibola, the association regretted that despite the impact of private schools in nation building, multiple taxation from government was hindering effective running of schools.
“Therefore, I strongly appeal to the federal government to recognise private schools as partners in progress and articulate necessary incentives for investors in education as well as eradicate the multiple taxation private schools are laden with”, he said.
Social services Also in his speech, NAPPS president in the state, Rahaman Lateef, also appealed to “government and various tax agents to treat private schools as social service providers and not as business entities that should pay high taxes”.
He lamented that barge of taxes and multiplicity of taxes levy on schools are ‘‘killing”.
“Our impact on socio-economic development of Kwara state and Nigeria a whole should be the paramount yardstick to measure what to charge our schools as tax but not the desire to improve the IGR at all cost”, said the NAPPS president
New clampdown And barely two years after, the Kwara state government again last Monday announced the closure of additional 42 substandard private schools across the three Senatorial districts of the state.
The closure of the 42 schools came barely and half years after the state government shut 88 mushroom schools for operating below standard.
The Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaja Mariam Garuba, said, “some of the schools were shot down for operating without proper approval“.
Garuba said “during the ongoing 2017/2018 academic session, the ministry through the Quality Assurance Bureau discovered and closed 42 schools across the three senatorial districts of the state.
She added, “the schools were either operating without the approval of the ministry of are found to be sub-standard.” She however emphasised the commitment of the ministry towards quality education service delivery, warned the affected schools as well as others not yet in the net of the Ministry to stop violating the directives and policies of the state government.

Affected schools According to her, the affected schools are, Graceland Bursary and Primary School, Karistic Kiddies Academic, Bola Bursary and Primary School, Porters Nursery and Primary School, Prime Light International School, Oluomo Success Bursary and Primary School and Complete Confi dence Bursary and Primary School.
Also, Rhiana Nursary and Primary School, Maxwell International College, Magaji Baboko Academic, Mohammed Idiagbon Islamic Academy, Destiny Kiddies Academy and Daarul Funuum Islamic Academy.
The government also closed down Al-Bayan Nursary and Primary School, Seventh Day Adventist School, Al-Royan Islamic School, Mostarky Academy and IPS Schools.
Bihizinilahi Bursary and Primary School, Ibrahim Niyas Nursary and Primary School, Lamond Nursary and Primary School, Mayowa Nursary and Primary School, Jurist Nursary and Primary School, Alkamaru Nursary and Primary School and Al-Lateef Nursary and Primary School were affected.
Other schools affected by the action of the state government, were Sheikh Ibrahim Nursary and Primary School, Nurusalam Nursary and Primary School, Rising Stars Nursary and Primary School, The Pacesetter Kiddies Academy, Al-Yekeen Islamic School, GTDS Nursaey and Primary School .
Also, Bolly Will Nursary and Primary School, Rhema Mottssori Nursary and Primary School, The Great

Leave a Reply