Godsent Ogbebor
The Kwara State Government has issued a stern warning to proprietors of coaching centres across the state, urging them to stop poaching students from public schools under the guise of preparing them for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The warning was delivered by the Executive Director of the Agency for Mass Education, Saka Yusuf, during a meeting with the executive members of the Association of Private Coaching Centres of Nigeria on Tuesday.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the agency’s Press Secretary, Anigilaje Rasheedat, the government made it clear that proprietors engaging in such practices would face legal consequences.
Yusuf expressed concern that, despite continuous sensitization efforts, some coaching centres continued to violate regulations by admitting students from Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), Senior Secondary 1 (SS1), and Senior Secondary 2 (SS2). He warned that this could disrupt their education and jeopardize their future.
“Henceforth, coaching centres should not take students from schools and register them as conventional students. This practice is in direct violation of the state’s education ordinance,” Yusuf stated.
He emphasized that rather than undermining government efforts to improve education standards, coaching centres should play a supportive role in the state’s educational system.
In response, the President of the Association of Private Coaching Centres of Nigeria and Proprietor of Lumex Tutors, Mr. Olumide Agboola, backed the government’s directive, stating that any coaching centre found guilty should be sanctioned accordingly.
Similarly, the Proprietor of Gama Tutors, Mr. Thomas Adebiyi, assured the government of full compliance, stating that all centres would immediately stop unethical practices and adhere strictly to the association’s regulations.
