The National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) has ranked secondary schools in Kogi State among the top performers nationwide, praising their adherence to educational standards and consistent demonstration of academic excellence.
Hajia Rabia Umar Muhammad, Head of the Quality Assurance Department at NSSEC, gave the commendation during a monitoring and evaluation exercise conducted across selected public and private secondary schools in Lokoja. Addressing teachers at the GYB Model Secondary School, Adankolo, as part of the visit, Hajia Rabia expressed satisfaction with the structures and strategies implemented by the school to maintain high academic standards.
According to her, the evaluation was evidence-based and focused on key indicators, including curriculum quality, leadership and management, alignment with the WAEC syllabus, academic achievements, standards, and the learning environment. She noted that the schools visited were exceptional in these areas.
“The Commission is mandated to develop and enforce minimum standards in senior secondary schools. For a long time, this level of education has lacked regulatory oversight. While the Universal Basic Education takes care of the junior secondary level, and the National Universities Commission (NUC) oversees tertiary education, senior secondary schools have been left without adequate intervention. The level of decadence in some senior secondary schools is alarming; many are in such poor condition that they can hardly be recognised as learning institutions,” she stated. Hajia Rabia emphasised that the Commission’s mandate extends across public and private schools, including federal colleges, and also includes capacity-building for teachers.
In her remarks, Dr Habiba Suleiman, Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Secondary Education Board (KGSSEB), applauded the evaluation exercise and commended the teachers for their dedication to advancing secondary education in the State.
“Teaching remains a noble profession,” she said, reiterating the Board’s commitment to restoring the lost glory of secondary education. She expressed confidence in the competence of teachers across the State, assuring that schools in Kogi will continue to improve in future evaluations.
