The National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) has commended secondary schools in Kogi state for their adherence to educational standards and outstanding academic excellence.
Head of the Quality Assurance Department of NSSEC, Hajia Rabia Umar Muhammad, gave the commendation during a monitoring and evaluation exercise conducted across selected public and private secondary schools in Lokoja.
Addressing teachers at the GYB Model Secondary School, Adankolo, as part of the visit, Hajia Rabia expressed satisfaction with the structures and strategies implemented by the schools to maintain high academic standards.
According to her, the evaluation was evidence-based and focused on key indicators such as curriculum quality, leadership and management, alignment with WAEC syllabus, academic achievements, standards, and the learning environment.
She noted that the schools visited were exceptional in these areas.
“The Commission is mandated to develop and enforce minimum standards in senior secondary schools,” she stated. “For a long time, this level of education has lacked regulatory oversight. While the Universal Basic Education takes care of the junior secondary level, and the National Universities Commission (NUC) oversees tertiary education, senior secondary schools have been left without adequate intervention. The level of decadence in some senior secondary schools is alarming—many are in such poor condition that they can hardly be recognized as learning institutions.”
Hajia Rabia emphasized that the Commission’s mandate extends across public and private schools, including federal colleges, and also includes capacity-building for teachers.
In her remarks, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Secondary Education Board (KGSSEB), Dr. Habiba Suleiman, applauded the evaluation exercise and commended the teachers for their dedication to advancing secondary education in the State.
“Teaching remains a noble profession,” she said, reiterating the Board’s commitment to restoring the lost glory of secondary education. She expressed confidence in the competence of teachers across the State, assuring that schools in Kogi will continue to improve in future evaluations.
Also speaking, the Principal of GYB Model Secondary School, Adankolo, Mr. Ajofe Yakubu Godwin, appreciated the management and staff of the school for their unwavering support. He dedicated the school’s impressive rating to their collective effort and hard work.
Other schools visited by the NSSEC evaluation team included Julitola International School, Baptist Group of Schools, Army Day Secondary School, and Crowther Memorial College, all in Lokoja.
