“Private Schools Need Support, Not Harassment” — HEI Director Charges Govt, Stakeholders
“Private Schools Need Support, Not Harassment” — HEI Director Charges Govt, Stakeholders
TEC News | 30th July, 2025
The Lead Director of Human Enhancement Institute (HEI) Nigeria, Da-Silva .O. Johnson, has made a clarion call for renewed commitment to real education, charging government authorities, private school proprietors, teachers, and parents to move beyond mere schooling to intentional, value-driven education.
He made the appeal during a rousing keynote address delivered at the Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Owala Model Academy, Akwanga, Nasarawa State on Wednesday , with the theme: “Let’s EDUCATE – Not Just School Them.”
In his thought-provoking presentation, Johnson emphasized that real education must go beyond passing exams and stuffing facts. He noted that educating children involves empowering them to think, question, and solve problems, not just sit in classrooms.
“Don’t assume learning is happening just because schooling is happening,”
he warned, adding that
“education must be intentional, consistent, and complete”.
Using the acronym E-D-U-C-A-T-E, he broke down the core of his message to include: Empowerment, Dedication, Understanding, Connection, Assessment, Teaching, and Elevation of learning standards and values.
One of the most striking parts of his address was his passionate appeal to government stakeholders, especially those in regulatory and supervisory roles, to shift from harassment to support in their dealings with private schools.
“Private schools are suffering. Economic hardship is biting. Many are struggling to keep quality alive. Government must help us to help the Nigerian child,” he stated.
He urged government to grant-aid private schools, include them in teacher training programs, and supervise them with compassion rather than threats—stressing that children in private schools are also citizens and deserve equal educational attention.
To school proprietors and management, he advised that they must maintain high standards, continue staff training, and justify school fees through transparency and value delivery.
“Don’t stop asking for money if you need it to run the school—but justify it. Love your school family,”
he said.
Teachers were also reminded to be role models and to teach with conscience, while parents were admonished not to interfere negatively in the educational process, especially by restricting necessary discipline or neglecting their home responsibilities on their wards.
“Pay fees on time, don’t owe the school. Don’t restrict professional discipline in the name of love. Learning begins at home,”
he cautioned parents noting also the need to avoid harassing the teachers or the school but to maximize dialogue when the need arises .
On the role of learners, Da-Silva Johnson urged students to pursue genuine success, remain teachable and disciplined, and resist social vices such as fraud, exam malpractice, and immoral behavior.
His final call was a powerful one:
“Let this not just be about clapping for best pupils. Let it challenge us to lift every child. Because if we don’t educate them properly, the streets will miseducate them.”
The event, despite being a prize-giving day, became a moment of deep reflection for stakeholders in attendance—many of whom were visibly inspired by the speech.
