In an effort to uphold academic standards and eradicate unregistered educational institutions masquerading as ‘miracle examination centres,’ the Federal Government has launched a nationwide initiative to monitor and evaluate schools.

The move is aimed at ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and maintaining the integrity of the education system.

The Guardian reports that Miracle Examination Centres are educational institutions in Nigeria that facilitate cheating in examinations.

Briefing reporters after an on-site evaluation of the Redeemer Teap International School in Abuja, Rukayat Ibrahim, Team Lead from the Federal Ministry of Education, explained that the visit was intended to guide schools toward meeting the required educational standards and best practices.

Ibrahim, a Deputy Director in the Federal Education Quality Assurance Service (FEQAS), said that by conducting these assessments, the Ministry aims to promote excellence in education, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and provide guidance to schools to improve their overall performance.

She referenced a similar initiative launched by the Ministry in 2007, aimed at identifying schools engaged in unethical practices.

This effort, she noted, led to the blacklisting of several institutions that falsely presented themselves as reputable schools but were ‘miracle centres’ perpetuating academic malpractices.

According to the Team Lead, the assessment is a comprehensive nationwide exercise, concurrently taking place in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ensuring a uniform evaluation of schools across the country.

She said: “This is to enable us to cover more schools and bring out reports that the management at the Ministry can quickly read and know what is happening in the schools.”

On his part, a member of the team, Yinka Amodu, listed the yardsticks for assessment to include skills development, conducive learning environments, classroom space, laboratory equipment, ICT facilities, clinics, perimeter fencing, and others.

Amodu said the assessment exercise has a broad scope, encompassing not only private schools but also public schools, childcare centers, and institutions providing early childhood education to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the country’s educational landscape.

“In 2007, we were able to discover some ‘kangaroo schools’ that were not registered. They didn’t have qualified or professional teachers. Even if you see some of the buildings they use, they are dilapidated.
“It was because of this kind of evaluation that we embarked on then that we were able to identify these schools.
“If there are no checks and balances, the educational system in this country will not grow; we cannot continue doing the same thing and expect to achieve a different result,” he said.

The school’s Principal, Oladimeji Yusuf, committed to addressing the areas of concern highlighted by the assessment team and enhancing the overall educational experience by providing sufficient infrastructure and resources for both students and faculty.