Since the commercialization of education in Nigeria through private ownership, the country has unarguably joined the league of outstanding countries where the search for quality education has often led to the enrollment of children and wards in multi-million naira/dollar fee paying schools, which are perceived to be the best whether at primary, secondary or tertiary levels by parents/guardians who can afford the means.
In the last two decades, there has been an upsurge in the number of such elite schools where children of the affluent dominate. Such schools, particularly primary and secondary, are located in choice areas in cities like Lagos, Abuja, and other state capitals that are populated by the relatively rich or other cities or towns that provide good natural ambience that exhibit some high serenity needed for learning.
The rapid increase in the number of such high fee paying schools perceived to be in a position to offer quality education was largely prompted by the quick decline in the quality of education in public schools as a result of poor governance of the country by those in the corridors of power and the liberalization of the educational sector which allows for private ownership of schools at different levels whether primary, secondary or tertiary.
In light of such a development, in 2007, The Regent School, a British-style co-education school, was established to cater to children of British expatriates working in the city. It is located in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Children of Nigerian parents and other expatriates who need the British style of education curriculum are allowed to enroll at The Regent School. Over time, Children from The Regent Primary School can transfer to The Regent Secondary School for their secondary education from age 11+. The Regent Secondary School follows the English National Curriculum for Key Stage 3 and prepares students for IGCSE examinations. The Regent Secondary School is one of Abuja’s most sought-after schools.
The Regent School is the first British School Overseas (BSO) in Nigeria. This is why many parents with the financial wherewithal and admiration for the British style of education would prefer their children to enroll at The Regent.
With the degree of public acceptability and level of success by The Regent Secondary School, Abuja, among other institutions designated as British School Overseas (BSO), one would rather find it unimaginable and unbelievable to hear that the management of the school could resort to an action that is both unjust and indefensible given the degree of information already filtering into the public space about the expulsion of six students of the college, in the month of February, 2025 at a time they have barely three months to commence their Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Examination.
While it is not within the rights of anyone outside the school system to dictate how the school is managed within the context of its extant rules, it is still the responsibility of any well meaning citizen to question decisions that are not mindful of the rights of persons particularly where a perceived injustice or persecution is alleged. To this extent, one is beginning to feel worried that if the case of the expelled students is not promptly and properly addressed, the ripple effect may pitch management of elite Regent Secondary School against some members of the Nigerian public and possibly the international community who may judge the action taken so far as unjustifiable and image-damaging.
Some available information largely reveals some high-handedness of management of The Regent Secondary School, against the expelled students, who are reportedly described as the fall guys in a situation where the actual culprits of examination malpractice and cheating were given only a few days suspension. The students were reportedly linked to cheating during examination in the school earlier in the year, but from some very credible sources in the school, there was no evidence to prove that the expelled students actually cheated in the examination, and despite the repeated insistence on their innocence, the school management chose to expell them from the college, thereby making it difficult for them to continue their education and preparation for the IGCSE examination beginning in May, 2025.
The situation becomes more disheartening given the emerging revelation that some teachers in the college were promoting a culture of cheating in the college examinations. Some of the teachers whose names are with-held were the actual culprits in the cheating saga. Rather than discipline the teachers who are corrupting the students who are minors, the Regent Secondary School management resorted to punishing the innocent as a volte face in the attempt to cover up and portray the school as being a champion of integrity with respect to examinations.
This development does not speak well of the management of The Regent Secondary School if truly the six students were expelled unjustly. Since they have less than two months to commence their IGCSE examination along with other students in the same class, their matter calls for urgent and serious intervention from higher authorities. In this case, the British Council in Nigeria, which plays some oversight functions, should quickly intervene by investigating the circumstances that led to the expulsion of the students. Some possible remedies should be worked out in order to prevent some ugly stories that could obviously cause some reputational damage to the college, which many people have associated with for some time now.
It has become expedient for the British Council to promptly intervene in this matter as any delay that might ultimately lead to the failure of the expelled students not sitting for the May, 2025 examination may lead to some distasteful revelations that are capable of putting the school in an un-contemplated bad light. The interest of the kids must be prioritized above any image-saving measures by The Regent Secondary School.
Source: Linda Ikeji
