By Adesina Wahab

The proprietress of Pinkfields Academy, Satellite Town, Lagos, Mrs Osita Ibeke, has urged governments at all levels to help private school owners succeed in the provision of quality education for the citizens.

She said the government can do that by not burdening them with multiple taxes and levies.

This is just as she emphasized the need for providing quality education for youths, saying that it is what can make them compete favourably with their peers globally.

Ibeke, whose school is about five years old, expressed satisfaction that it has made great impact in Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area and even Lagos State at large.

“Shortly after we took off, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and everybody had to mellow down. But it was a blessing for us, as we had to come on stream using modern facilities and making use of ICT and others to teach.

“We hold our classes using power point presentations and they are very interactive. Our use of ICT has carved a great niche for us. Last year, one of our teachers, Mr Olawale Oshinowo came first in the local government at a competition organised by National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, NAPPS. It was a computer based test. At the state level, he tied with two others for the second position.

“There is a wide gap between the quality of education offered by some private schools like ours and public schools. Incidentally, most of us attended public schools. What I would advise the government to do is to visit those public schools and improve on the facilities there. The world has changed and things are moving swiftly. We are all witnesses to what the world experienced during the pandemic and things cannot remain the same again,” she said.

Ibeke noted that despite the high cost of running private schools, she has to be considerate in the fees charged parents and guardians, “as the focus is on serving the society through the provision of quality education that will help everybody one way or the other.”

Oshinowo, who joined the school last year, described his experience as exciting.

“The moment I attended their end of the year activities, I felt being a part of the school. The facilities are fantastic and the administration of the school is okay. When the NAPPS contest came up, I gave it a shot and I was happy that I came first at the local government level and also did well at the state level.

“Pinkfields Academy has set the pace for others here and even at the state level. As a teacher with over 10 years experience, and somebody who has worked in some other schools before coming here, quality education is being provided here,” he stated.