Peace Obi
The Lagos State Ministry of Education as part of its commitment to regulate various segments and activities in the education sector has directed operators of tutorial/continuing education centres in the state to register with the ministry’s Agency for Mass Education.
It said the registration took effect from September 2015 when it distributed demand notice to the tutorial centres, adding that the commencement of the closure of all unregistered tutorial centres in the state will start on September 19, 2016.
According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, the AkinwunmiAmbod-led government would do all in its power to improve the quality of education in the state. “As a government, we must set standards across board and ensure they are met. These centres serve the needs of many Lagosians and we are committed to ensure that high quality of service is delivered.”
The registration which is said to be in line with the Lagos State Agency for Mass Education Edict 1990, Section 4 (2, 3) that mandates the agency to control activities of all continuing education/tutorial centres in the state is to ensure compliance with the set standards by all operators.
According to the statement from the special adviser’s office, the minimum standards require that the centres must have qualified instructors/teachers. It must also be conducive for learning with safety duly observed, clean conveniences and up-to-date record keeping system.
Stressing that the commitment to upholding high standards should be a collective effort among all stakeholders, including government agencies, management of tutorial centres and relevant associations, Bank-Olemoh said even parents of students who patronise the centres should also join in the efforts.
Disclosing some of the steps taken by the state ministry of education to carry operators along in the process, he said, “over the past one year, series of meetings were held between some of the relevant bodies including the Association of Tutorial School Operators (ATCSO) and the Agency for Mass Education, and it was concluded that: all continuing education/tutorial centres should be registered with the agency.”
