Delta Council Boss, Ogorugba Decries Number of Private Schools Without Approvals, Urges CIE to Investigate

Godwin Ogorugba, the chairman of Delta State’s Isoko North Local Government Area, has urged the State Chief Inspector of Education to conduct in-depth investigations prior to giving private school owners operational accreditation or approvals.

He stated this while addressing members of the Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) Isoko North chapter, led by its chairman, Okpowe Sunday, on Monday, in Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North LGA.

Ogorugba said that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was performing exceptionally well in the field of education, particularly in the state’s basic public primary schools, by promptly paying teachers’ salaries, promotions, and pensions; building or renovating classroom blocks; and providing desks, among other things.

“Delta State is one of the states in Nigeria with the best public primary schools for students. Our schools have excellent and supportive infrastructure, and our teachers are highly qualified and certified to provide our kids with the best foundational education knowledge to brighten their future for greater accomplishments in life.”

“I would like to urge all parents and guardians in Isoko North and throughout Delta State to enroll their kids in public primary schools so they can gain a strong foundation in education that will help them in the future,” he said.

However, the council chairman bemoaned the alarming rise in the number of private schools throughout the state, particularly in Isoko North.

He added that, despite the fact that there are private schools on practically every street, including in unfinished buildings and batcher houses, our parents and guardians are paying outrageous school fees that will ultimately result in their children receiving only rudimentary educational foundational knowledge.

“If you visit all the public primary schools across the state, the least qualified teacher you can see is the holder of a Nigeria Certificate of Education (NCE), while others have BSC (Ed) Msc (Ed) and even PhD, but in most private schools they engage the services of Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) holders, and few with degrees are not specialized in education hence the Chief Inspector of Education must seat up with their responsibilities to minimize the rate of educational decay.

“It is the duty of the Chief Inspector of Education (CIE) to ensure high educational standards and improve teaching and learning across the state, not just sit in the office and grant approvals for all private schools’ applications without proper assessments, which is affecting the returns of registration and enrollment into our public primary schools today.” Ogorugba warned.

Ogorugba commended all head teachers and primary school teachers for their diligence and dedication to ensuring that students receive the best basic education foundation possible, which is the master key to lifelong educational pursuits.

According to the council chairman, his administration is following in the footsteps of “our father, the working governor, the MORE Agenda Governor, and the Ukodo of the Universe, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, in the area of infrastructure and education, my administration has constructed a block of three class rooms and four toilets and a water supply scheme at Oteri-Iyede primary school, free distribution of notebooks, bags, sandals, and other writing materials

In his remarks, Okpowe thanked the council chairman for his educational visionary leadership through his back-to-school initiatives that have elevated the standard of basic education in the local government, reassuring the council chairman that the primary school teachers will continue to put in their best to raise their educational standards for all.