QUALITY ASSURANCE STANDARDS AND THEIR ENFORCEMENT IN PRIVATE NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN SOKOTO METROPOLIS

QUALITY ASSURANCE STANDARDS AND THEIR ENFORCEMENT IN PRIVATE NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN SOKOTO METROPOLIS ( Economics Education Project Topics)

ABSTRACT

The core function of Quality Assurance Standard is to ensure compliance of private and public schools to the standard requirements of educational system in Nigeria, the research project investigated compliance in Quality Assurance Standards and how they are enforced in private nursery and primary schools in Sokoto metropolis. The research project has addressed four research questions. The population of the research consisted of all the teachers and head teachers in private nursery and primary schools in Sokoto metropolis. The total number of these schools is 169, the sample is made up of 100 teachers and 20 head teachers, selected from the total number of private nursery and primary schools in Sokoto metropolis. Questionnaires were used in data collection. The instruments were administered by the researchers to the respondent who were guided on how to complete the questionnaire items. The Data were analysed using simple percentages and the results were displayed using frequency tables. The research found that most private schools in Sokoto metropolis comply with the standards regulating the establishment and management of private schools as contained in the quality assurance standards and enforcement guidelines. From the findings of the study, it is recommended that there is the need to address issues of insufficient materials and rare visitation by Quality Assurance Standard Staff. The study also recommended that more school inspectors and evaluators should be employed by the Inspectoral Service Division of the State Ministry of Education.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1         BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Education is a mechanism which influences the nation’s ability to produce the much needed positive outcomes in all aspects of life. Social change, national integration and development in every country, depend solely on the structure and dynamisms of the country’s educational system. As the nation’s future is built around the four corners of a classroom it is pertinent to ensure quality in material and infrastructural facilities of the school (FME, 2013). It is the responsibility of the educational system to produce the changes and the needs of the society.

Education quality assurance ensures that school processes and practices are carried out according to set standards that bring about improvement in teaching and learning. In practical terms, quality assurance sets the rule, regulation, policies and requirements of infrastructural material, facilities and procedures which are to be adhered to by all schools. It also involves the processes of monitoring, assessing and evaluating according to agreed standards, and communicating judgment obtained to all concerned, in order to ensure quality with integrity, public accountability and consistent improvement in education processes and activities(FME 2010).

The overall goal of quality assurance standards and their enforcement is to sanitize the educational system of the nation from proliferation of substandard institutions particularly at basic education sector of Nigeria. As a result of vast population and limited resources, government alone cannot cater for the educational needs of its citizens without venturing into public private partnership.

QUALITY ASSURANCE STANDARDS AND THEIR ENFORCEMENT IN PRIVATE NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN SOKOTO METROPOLIS ( Economics Education Project Topics)