THE Federal Government has taken a bold step aimed at improving the quality of secondary education in the country in line with the ongoing reforms in the education sector.
The initiative stemmed from concerns by stakeholders about the poor quality of students graduating from secondary schools who invariably are those to be fed tertiary institutions across the country.
In order to address the challenge, the Federal government through the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) has unveiled a nationwide Quality Assurance Monitoring and Evaluation scheme designed to transform senior secondary education across the country.
The national assessment programme was formally flagged off at the Federal Government College, Malali, Kaduna state, marking the beginning of an ambitious campaign to improve learning environments, teacher performance, and student outcomes.
Speaking at the event, NSSEC executive secretary, Dr Iyela Ajayi, described the initiative as a strategic tool in achieving the goals of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes human capital development through quality education.
“This initiative marks a pivotal moment in our collective pursuit of excellence in education,
“It is not merely a bureaucratic exercise but a testament to our commitment to the future of our nation. The quality of education we provide today will determine the success of tomorrow.” Ajayi added.
Dr Ajayi explained that the programme would assess schools against the National Minimum Standards for Senior Secondary Education, approved by the National Council on Education in October 2024 while identifying best practices and areas for improvement.
He said “Through rigorous monitoring and evaluation, we aim to pinpoint where schools are excelling and where they need support,” adding, “this effort will promote innovation in teaching, empower educators, and ensure every learner is equipped for life beyond the classroom.”
The launch event also featured a strong endorsement from Kaduna State’s Ministry of Education.
Representing the Commissioner for Education, Professor Muhammad Bello, Director of the State Schools Quality Assurance Authority, Usman Zaria, welcomed the initiative as long overdue.
“Monitoring and evaluation has long been a missing link in our education sector.
“While the government has invested billions in school infrastructure and teacher development, structured oversight has been lacking. We fully support NSSEC’s efforts to change that,” Zaria said.
Stakeholders at the event-including school principals, education directors, and students-lauded the commission’s commitment to raising education standards and pledged their cooperation in implementing the assessment scheme.
The NSSEC monitoring and evaluation campaign is expected to cover all senior secondary schools nationwide, reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to building an equitable and high-performing education system that nurtures the next generation of leaders.
