KDSG shuts down private school over COVID-19

The Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority has shut down Future Leaders International School, for conducting entrance examination in violation of the Coronavirus Quarantine Order.

The Director-General of the Authority, Umma Ahmad, also said that the school’s license would also be revoked, adding that government officials found 34 teaching and non-teaching staffers, including construction workers within the school premises.

According to the Director General, the school’s action violated the federal and state governments’ COVID-19 Quarantine Order, which directed that all schools should remain closed.

Hajiya Umma recalled that the government had held a series of meetings with the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) on why schools should remain closed.

“It was resolved that members of the association should leverage on e-learning introduced by the Ministry of Education to keep children learning at home and at no cost to parents,’’ she said.
The Director General further said that Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i had also categorically directed that all schools should remain closed in his June 9 state broadcast.

“But against this directive, we learnt that Future Leaders International School had asked pupils and students to come to the school to write entrance examination into JSS I and SS I.
“On getting there, we met 70 pupils and students writing the examination, with 34 teaching and non-teaching staffs as well as construction ongoing in the school.

“In fact, half of the pupils and students were not wearing face masks, a situation that put the children at risk of contracting the Coronavirus.

“I, therefore, sent the pupils out, invited their parents and closed the school as directed by the Commissioner of Education, Dr Shehu Makarfi,’’ she said.
The head of the Quality Assurance Authority further said that the school’s license would be revoked.