- Is it legal for the government to regulate the operations of the CEC?
Yes
The Lagos State Agency for Mass Education is mandated to control activities of all Continuing Education/ Tutorial Centres in the State accordingto the Lagos State Agency for Mass Education Edict 1990, Section 4 (2, 3).
- Has there been proper engagement of all relevant stakeholders? YES
The government has been in talks with all stakeholders since March 2014.
- Were they informed of the exercise before its commencement? YES
- Several meetings were held with the Exco members of the Association of Tutorial School Operators (ATSO).
- Communications were disseminated to all stakeholders.
- Press releases were published on all forms of media. (Electronic, print and social media).
- Officers of the Lagos State Agency for Mass Education paid sensitization visits to the centres in company of the Association members.
- Demand notices were distributed.
- Why is government embarking on this enforcement exercise?
This exercise is:
- to ensure standards are met in the education sector of the State.
- to ensure that quality service is provided to the citizens that patronize these centres.
- to have a comprehensive database of all CECs in the State.
- to have the full details of the Centre (With their operators and locations)on the official government website
- What are the minimum standards?
- Instructors must be qualified.
- Centre must follow approved curriculum according to the syllabus of the respective examination bodies.
- Classrooms must be conducive for learning
- Adequate safety precautions must be adhered to in the centres
- Centres must have clean conveniences.
- How much is the fee to be paid?
- Centres conducting training for professional courses like ICAN, NIIT, etc. are to pay N150,000 annually.
- While Tutorial centres (operating pre-university courses) are to pay N50,000.
- The feewas reviewed downward for the Tutorial centres from N150,000 annually to N50,000 annually after several pleas from the association.
- What do the operators of the centres stand to gain?
- It allows government necessary data for better planning.
- Their information will be captured on the database of the State’s approved CECs.
- Their information will be uploaded on the website of the Lagos State Agency for Mass Education. This provides them public visibility and recognition.
- Have some centres complied by getting registered?YES
- Over 74 centres have already registered.
- How to register?
- The CEC operator is to send a formal applicationto the Lagos State Agency for Mass Education.
- Officers inspect the facilities of the centre to ascertain compliance to set standards
- Payment of fee.
- Collection of approval letter.
- How does the agency monitor the operations of the CECs?
- Zonal officers visit centre on monthly basis in their respective zones.
- The zonal officers write and send in report to the Agency.