The federal government has begun nationwide on-the-spot monitoring of public and private schools to eliminate substandard schools.

This was disclosed when a team from the Federal Ministry of Education, led by the deputy director from the Quality Assurance Department, Ibrahim Rukayat, visited the Redeemers Teap International School, Garki, Abuja.

Speaking after evaluating the school, Rukayat said the exercise is happening nationwide from primary to secondary school levels, in both public and private schools.

“We are doing what we call on-the-spot assessment, which is a day assessment, two, three hours, and we are finished. We need to cover as many schools as possible. The report will be so short to read, not the other type of lengthy booklets or reforms that we’ve been doing.

“So, we’re doing it in a way that the management over there can quickly read and know what is happening.”

According to her, areas of focus include classes, labs, ICT facilities, clinics, and others, while commending the school as outstanding in the assessment.

Earlier, Yinka Amodu from the Quality Assurance Department said the exercise was a directive from the Honourable Minister of Education for all states to focus on on-the-spot monitoring.

“Now, we are doing that to help the schools, to help the learners, and also to help the parents. At the same time, we are helping the country.

“If there’s no check and balances, the educational system in this country will not grow, and we cannot continue doing the same thing and expect a different result.”

On his part, the principal of the school, Olajumede Yusuf, said the exercise was the first of its kind and that they are just flagging it off today.

He pledged to improve on the areas identified by the team as weak links.