The Zamfara state government has certified 123 private schools after they passed a minimum operational teaching and learning standard test designed to ensure quality education for children across the state.
The certification follows a comprehensive exercise where the government identified a total of 508 private schools operating within its borders. To date, 242 of these institutions have undergone rigorous screenings to ensure compliance with state-mandated learning and teaching benchmarks.
The results indicate that only about half of the schools screened so far have met the requirements necessary to operate legally. Of the 242 schools tested, 119 failed to meet the minimum standards, raising concerns about the quality of instruction and infrastructure provided to pupils in those institutions.
Educational Standards and School Compliance in Zamfara
The screening process focused on several critical areas of school management and pedagogy. Evaluators assessed the qualification of teaching staff, the availability of essential learning materials, the state of classroom infrastructure, and the overall safety of the environment for children.
The state government’s move is part of a broader strategy to eliminate substandard “miracle centres” and unregistered schools that charge tuition fees without providing a viable curriculum or qualified instructors. By implementing a standardized test, the government aims to create a transparent registry of approved schools, allowing parents to make informed decisions about where to enrol their children.
Zamfara has faced significant challenges in its education sector over the last few years, compounded by security instabilities that have previously disrupted school calendars and led to the closure of several institutions. The current drive for certification is seen as an attempt to stabilise the sector and recover lost ground in literacy and numeracy rates.
The disparity between the number of identified schools (508) and those screened (242) suggests that a large portion of the private education sector in the state remains unregulated. More than 260 schools are yet to be evaluated by the state authorities.
The government has indicated that schools that failed the test will be given guidance on the specific areas requiring improvement. However, institutions that refuse to comply with the minimum operational standards risk facing sanctions or closure to protect students from poor educational outcomes.
The state ministry of education is expected to continue the screening exercise for the remaining 266 identified schools to complete the statewide audit of private educational providers.
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