Alhaja Romoke Adedokun, Proprietress, Adedokun International Schools, Dalemo, Ota, has appealed to the Federal Government to grant loans to private school operators to improve human development in the nation.
Adedokun made the appeal during a send-off party organised for outgoing Senior Secondary (SS) 3 students at the school’s Iyana-Iyesi Multipurpose Campus in Ota, Ogun on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the school, which was founded in September 2009, will be graduating 77 SS3 students for the 2023/2024 academic session.
According to Adedokun, private schools are not recognised, when incentives or loans are being given because they are presumed to be independent.
The educationist noted, however, that the government needed to see private schools as part of the system that encouraged the government in all forms of education.
“We believed that the government cannot do it alone without the operators of private schools.
“That is why we are here to assist the government as they cannot take charge of every aspect of education as a result of the country’s large population.
“The government should look into how they can equally be assisting the private sector in some form or the other, such as when the Bank of Industry (BOI) gives loans to some sectors and enterprises,” Adedokun said.
The educationist said that private school operators are partners with the government as they trained students who could compete internationally with their counterparts.
She explained further that private schools, including Adedokun International Schools, had the mindset of promoting the standard of education in the country, and government should, therefore, give them that support.
“I believe it is time for the Federal Government to give us equal rights by granting the private schools loans as we are positive contributors to nation building,” the proprietress said.
Adedokun emphasised the need for the government to work together with private schools as a team.
This, she said, would make the standard of education continue to grow from strength to strength in terms of growing good academic performances in students, and facilities in schools.
The educationist noted that without the support of the government, there was little private schools could do.
In his welcome address, Dr Mike Fatukasi, the Principal of the School, congratulated the graduands for their achievements and the milestone of successfully completing six years of schooling.
Fatukasi applauded the parents for entrusting their children to the school to shape their minds and characters. (NAN
