The Federal Government has launched a bold new initiative aimed at raising the quality of senior secondary education across the country, as part of ongoing reforms in the education sector.
Prompted by growing concerns over the declining standards of secondary school graduates — many of whom go on to populate Nigeria’s tertiary institutions — the government, through the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC), has unveiled a national Quality Assurance Monitoring and Evaluation scheme to transform the landscape of senior secondary education.
The programme was officially flagged off at Federal Government College, Malali, Kaduna State, signaling the start of a nationwide campaign to enhance learning environments, boost teacher effectiveness, and improve student outcomes.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Iyela Ajayi, Executive Secretary of NSSEC, described the initiative as a strategic pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes human capital development through quality education.
“This initiative marks a pivotal moment in our collective pursuit of excellence in education,” Dr. Ajayi said. “It is not merely a bureaucratic exercise but a testament to our commitment to the future of our nation. The quality of education we provide today will determine the success of tomorrow.”
Dr. Ajayi explained that the monitoring program will evaluate schools based on the National Minimum Standards for Senior Secondary Education, which were approved by the National Council on Education in October 2024. The aim, he said, is to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement in schools across the country.
“Through rigorous monitoring and evaluation, we aim to pinpoint where schools are excelling and where they need support,” he stated. “This effort will promote innovation in teaching, empower educators, and ensure every learner is equipped for life beyond the classroom.”
The initiative received strong support from the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, with Usman Zaria, Director of the State Schools Quality Assurance Authority, speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Education, Professor Muhammad Bello.
“Monitoring and evaluation has long been a missing link in our education sector,” Zaria noted. “While the government has invested billions in school infrastructure and teacher development, structured oversight has been lacking. We fully support NSSEC’s efforts to change that.”
The event brought together a range of education stakeholders — including school principals, directors, and students — who praised NSSEC’s commitment to improving educational standards and pledged their support for the implementation of the scheme.
The NSSEC monitoring and evaluation campaign will cover all senior secondary schools nationwide, reinforcing the Federal Government’s resolve to build an inclusive, high-performing education system capable of nurturing the country’s next generation of leaders.
