BEING A PAPER PRESENTATION ON THE TOPIC: “SETTING UP

QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE IN OUR SCHOOLS: THE TASK

AHEAD” AT AMIS OLUYOLE WORKSHOP HELD AT TSPC SCHOOLS,
IBADAN ON THURSDAY, 4TH, NOVEMBER, 2021.

PREAMBLE
It gives me a great pleasure to present this paper before my leaders in school business and
colleagues in teaching profession. School business has now become a highly competitive one.
The rich and elites are now venturing into it. They have money to procure gigantic edifice,
purchase facilities needed to facilitate teaching-learning processes, employ competent and
qualified teachers, advertise on radio, invite external inspectors to school and run the school
successfully.
Such schools charge exorbitantly and laugh to banks to cash money! Some of these big
schools win competitions organised by Cowbellpedia, MAN, STAN, DEFI, AMIS, SPAK etc.
and their names are heard everywhere. It advertises their schools and increases enrolment to the
extent that some of them reject students. Sometimes, they come back home with fantabulous
gifts. Won’t you be happy if your school is among them? The journey of a thousand miles starts
a day.
On the other hand, there are schools with less gigantic structure but fantastic content.
They are doing well, developing and competing with schools mentioned above. They manage
their available resources to achieve their goal. Money is not everything to them though money
plays a vital role in setting up quality control and assurance. To them, what a rich school
achieved by spending one million naira may be achieved by spending one hundred thousand
naira. They are prudent with resources available in their custody. It is like popular saying:
“Oyinbo mu tea, ma mu ko gbona” (If an English man takes tea, I will take hot pap). This
paper presentation titled: “Setting up Quality Control and Quality Assurance in Our Schools: The
Task Ahead” will empirically focus on how to achieve setting up and maintaining quality control
in our schools managing the available resources at our disposal. Allah is my strength.

QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE IN EDUCATION

Quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) are two terms that are often used
interchangeably. They are interrelated but sometimes defined differently. They focus on
fulfilling processes and requirements of giving quality education.
Quality control/assurance in this paper presentation is defined as measures, processes and
activities put in place to ensure that quality education is provided for all learners. It involves the
systematic review of educational provisions to maintain and improve its quality, efficiency and
continuity. It encompasses school self-evaluation, external evaluation (including inspection), the
evaluation of teachers, school leaders and students. It provides high-quality education for all and
facilitate learner mobility throughout the world. Quality control/assurance must cater for all
domains of learning: cognitive, affective and psychomotor.
ISSUES IN QUALITY CONTROL AND ASSURANCE
There are developed, developing and underdeveloped schools. Each of the categories has
certain peculiarities and challenges encountered at any moment of growth and development.
There are general issues that must be tackled by each according to the available resources and
managerial skills. In this paper presentation, I will discuss thirty issues that school
administrators must focus in setting up quality control and assurance in schools.

1. RECRUITMENT OF COMPETENT AND QUALIFIED TEACHERS

Quality control will be a mirage if a school does not recruit competent and qualified
teachers as her team. Competent and qualified teachers are the drivers that will drive the school
to the shore of grace. Schools that employ incompetent and unqualified teachers will never reach
promised land as far as giving quality education is concerned as students are mirror of their
teachers. Each school should cultivate habit of organizing written and oral interview. Experts
may be invited to judge performance of prospective teachers. This helps a lot. Staff
development seminars should be organized at least once in every term to improve teachers’
performance.

2. PROCUREMENT OF ESSENTIAL FACILITIES

In setting up quality control and assurance, schools need facilities such as: NERDC
Curriculum; NECO Syllabus; WAEC Syllabus; Library; Home Economics Laboratory; CCA
Room; Basic Technology Laboratory; Computer/ICT Laboratory; Chemistry Laboratory; Physics
Laboratory; Biology/Agriculture Laboratory; Sick Bay; first aid box, fire extinguisher, staffroom
(male and female); asatidhah room for school with more Arabic teachers and Qur’an
memorisers; School Hall; relevant teaching aids, recreational facilities such as: table tennis,
basketball court etc., well ventilated classrooms with fans; source of drinkable water; source of
power supply; competent and qualified teachers some of whom must have TRCN to mention but
few. Nursery and primary schools may not need some of the above mentioned facilities.
For day-to-day running of standard schools, the following items are needed: computer sets;
laptop; printers; photocopy machines; projector; generator; flash drive; letter head; stamp/stamp
pad; cabinet and iron/wooden cupboards; notice boards and suggestion box.
Schools that want to set up quality control may also need to work on: students' handbook,
staff code of conduct, staff recruitment experts, school management board which may comprise:
proprietor; school heads; HODs; one Ustãdh for spiritual guide and probably one dedicated or
longest serving staff member.

3. AVAILABILITY OF SCHOOL RECORDS

`Schools that wish to set up quality assurance should make sure that statutory and non-
statutory records are readily available and updated. Some of those records include: admission
register, attendance register, time book, log book, timetable, memo book, school calendar,
education law, national policy on education, NERDC curriculum, staff movement book,
visitor’s book, commendation book, punishment book, suspension book, staff file, students'
file, detention book, announcement book, PTA minutes book, staff minutes book, inventory
book, supervision book, marks book, salary ledger, school fees ledger, diaries, lesson notes,
list of school prefects, staff list, questions bank, broadsheet, clubs' files, ministry file to
mention but few.
4. ADMISSION PROCESSES
Admission into any class should not be automatic. Students who apply for admission
should be considered only after they might have successfully passed the required scores in the
entrance examination which may differ from one school to another. Students with minor
academic deficiencies may still be considered for admission but that should be on probation on a
condition that parents or guardians of such applicants must be ready to sign a letter of
undertaking with the school management. CHECK SPECIMEN ONE
Admitting students without due process will never make a school standard. Such schools
will later end up in examination malpractices and quality assurance will never be ascertained.

5. THE USE OF GOVERNMENT APPROVED CURRICULUM AND

CURRICULUM COVERAGE EVALUATION
Each school should get appropriate government approved NERDC, WAEC, NECO,
JAMB etc. curricula. The curriculum should be properly divided into terms and weeks.
Curriculum harmonization is better for those running secondary schools. Curriculum integration
may be needed for schools preparing students for foreign examinations like TOEFL, SAT,
CAMBRIGDE A’ level etc. Schools may integrate their curriculum with British; American and
Saudi curriculum.
In maintaining quality control, there is a need for curriculum coverage evaluation at the
end of every term. This may be carried out by the school head but preferably by the external
evaluators. This is the backbone of sound qualitative education and will make the students excel
in competitions and external examinations. It helps a lot in setting up quality assurance. CHECK
SPECIMEN TWO.

6. PROCUREMENT OF AT LEAST THREE RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS FOR

EACH SUBJECT
School owners should strive to get at least three recommended and relevant textbooks for
subjects being taught in their schools. It facilitates preparation of standard lesson notes by
teachers. A school without recommended textbooks is like a farmer without cutlass. Teachers
should be monitored to use those textbooks religiously.

7. THE USE OF TEACHING AIDS

Appropriate instructional materials should be readily available in school for use to
facilitate teaching-learning process. Teachers should improvise teaching aids where the needed
ones are not available in school. Android phone if carefully used is very helpful in getting
relevant videos and images on internet as teaching aids.
8. CLASSWORK AND ASSIGNMENTS
Classwork, homework and other relevant assignments should be given to learners on
regular basis. Teachers should do corrections for students and mark their assignments.
Assignment defaulters' register should be used to document students who have been neglecting
the assignments. It is a record that may be shown to parents during open day or whenever they
come to school for a task.

9. ORGANISING PRACTICALS IN PRACTICAL ORIENTED SUBJECTS

Organising practicals in practical oriented subjects like: Home Economics, Cultural and
Creative Arts, Agricultural Science, Basic Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Animal
Husbandry etc. helps a lot in setting up quality assurance. The school owners should make
provision for items needed for practicals in the school budget of every term. The practicals
should be monitored, evaluated and if need arises documented for advertisement. CHECK
SPECIMEN THREE.

10. CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT

Continuous evaluation of students to ascertain that learning is really taking place in
school should be embarked upon from time to time. This varies from a school to another. It may
be done weekly, fortnightly, monthly, midterm, during second C.A test, as midterm take-home
assignments, as holiday assignments and at the end of the term. Students should be evaluated
through external examinations, external competitions, essay writing, quiz, debate to mention but
few.

11. TREATING PAST QUESTIONS AND SETTING STANDARD QUESTIONS

Treating past questions and setting standard examination questions preferably from
solutions to past questions will help a lot in setting up quality control and assurance. Students in
terminal classes should be mandated to get a copy of solutions to past questions in their
respective classes. Thus, the need to procure a copy of solutions to past questions for teachers
handling terminal classes. Teachers should be evaluated on areas covered from the past
questions. CHECK SPECIMEN FOUR.
On setting standard questions, there should be rules and regulations guiding teachers.
Each school should operate according to their level. CHECK SPECIMEN FIVE.

12. MONTHLY CLEARANCE

This is to check records in charge of teachers and make sure those records are up to date
before monthly salary is paid. The last monthly clearance in every term should be more detailed
than previous months. Memo should be passed across to teachers on records to be checked in a
particular month. It has proved to be highly efficacious in setting up quality assurance in schools.

13. ALLOW STUDENTS TO REPEAT IF THEY DO NOT CATCH UP

 Students who do not catch up and fail to meet up with the promotion criteria should be
allowed to repeat the class. The mentality that students do not repeat in private schools does not
help quality assurance measures.

14. STUDENTS’ RESULTS’ ANALYSIS

Students’ results should be thoroughly analyzed after internal and external examinations
and competitions to evaluate students’ performance and the school standard. Comparison should
be made between previous results and present ones to detect whether there is improvement or
otherwise. There should be a file specially dedicated for this.

15. PAYMENT OF TWELVE-MONTH SALARY

Payment of full salary from January till December should be a practice in schools that
want to maintain and retain competent and qualified teachers. Other incentives and welfare
packages should be added. This makes Allah to bless our schools and encourages teachers to
give quality education to students.

16. BUDGETING
There should be a reasonable amount of money earned mark in school budget for quality
assurance, staff seminar, facilities upgrade and miscellaneous expenses. Schools that are not
ready to spend will never taste quality assurance.

17. THE USE OF QUERY

Query may be given to erring staff members who neglect their duties or violate the school
rules and regulations. Other reasons that may warrant issuing queries to staff include: late
submission of records such as lesson note, diary, register, examination questions etc., gross
insubordination and disobedience to the school management; gross misconduct, crimes, fraud,
disregard of lawful orders, incessant lateness to school; absence in the school without official
permission, illegal extortion of money from students or parents among others.
The main aim of giving queries is to call staff to order and wake them up to their duties.
It should be used wisely so as not to drive competent teachers away from the school. The content
of the query should be devoid of abusive and derogatory words. A member of staff with frequent
queries may not be able to give quality education to learners.

18. CREATING A GOOD LEARNING ATMOSPHERE FOR STUDENTS

Classrooms should be neat, well ventilated and conducive for learning. There should fans
or air-condition in all classes. Burning of refuse in the school environment should be discouraged
or done after closing period or in the weekend when students are not around. The rain or sun
should not disturb students while learning in classrooms. Conducive environment for learning
should not be noisy.

19. AVOIDANCE OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICES

 Schools that want to assure quality education should move away from examination
malpractices which is the order of the day among most public and private schools in Nigeria.
Students should be trained to be independent and excel in examinations by themselves without
any help. Schools that produce students with distinctions at BECE/WAEC/NECO/NABTEB etc.
through examination malpractices may have their students facing problems at JAMB or tertiary
institution level. It is a sinful practice before Allah which Muslim schools should not bear hand
in.

20. DO NOT RUSH TO ESTABLISH SECONDARY SCHOOL

We need to be factual with ourselves. We should not rush into establishing secondary
schools when we do not possess what it takes averagely. Establishment of secondary school is
not an easy task if truly we want to set up quality assurance and produce outstanding students.
The challenges of running secondary school are too enormous and not all proprietors of private
primary schools can bear them in terms of having structure to be used, having financial
capability and intellectualism it takes though Rome was not built a day.
For example, a secondary school that wants to give quality education must have: Home
Economics Laboratory (1); CCA Room (2); Basic Technology Laboratory (3); Computer/ICT
Laboratory (4); Chemistry Laboratory (5); Physics Laboratory (6); Biology/Agriculture
Laboratory (7); Sick Bay (8); Staffroom (9); School Hall (10); Principal/Administrative Office
(11); Bursar’s Office (12); Library (13) among other offices. Those are thirteen offices in
addition to classrooms.

21. SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES

Spiritual activities should be put in place in schools that want to set up quality control.
Activities such as: Morning assembly spiritual talk; post Zuhr talk, Friday khutbah if possible,
weekly Islamic enlightenment programme among others to instil morality, seriousness and high
level of spirituality in students should be going on. Discourses on Aqeedah, Ibadah and
mu’amalat should be focused. There should be enlightenment on evils going on around such as:
BB Naija, valentine, betting, cultism, dressing nakedly, bad hairstyle, bleaching, handshake with
opposite sex, boyfriendship, addiction to social media etc. and Islamic view point on them.
Teaching of adhkar improves students’ spirituality and prepares them for future challenges.
Arabic, Qur'an memorisation and Islamic Studies should not be toyed with.

22. QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTION

The school owners will need services of education administrators and inspectors in
frequently evaluating and inspecting the teachers, students and the school records/facilities on
ground. They will write reports on areas that need improvements. This consumes money but
usually yields positive results.
Other measures include:
23. Monitoring teaching methodologies of teachers.
24. Co-curricular activities.
25. Career talk to students.
26. Staff resumption before students to prepare necessary records.
27. Visitation to other schools that are doing well.
28. Participation in external quiz competitions and debates.
29. Having functional students’ handbook and staff code of conduct.
30. Above all, prayers and prayers.

CONCLUSION
With the points highlighted above, it is anticipated that if they are judiciously
implemented, our schools will be counted among schools giving quality education. These points
are taken from my unpublished book titled: ‘Running Standard Islamic Schools: Challenges,
Practices and Prospects’. May Allah ease the publication of the book.
May Allah be praised and may His ceaseless peace and blessings be upon the noble
Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him).
.‫سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك أشهد أن ال إله إال أنت أستغفرك وأتوب إليك‬
Prepared by:
Rasheed Adekunle Haashim,
Director, Muflihun High School, Ibadan
 SPECIMEN ONE
The Admission Officer,
School Name,
Muslim-Ifelodun Area,
Ibadan.
Dear Sir,
LETTER OF UNDERTAKING
Sequel to the failure of my child ……………………………... in the entrance
examination of the above named school into ………….. and my request for probation admission,
I ………………………...…… the parent/guardian of the above named child hereby undertake
the following:
1. That this probation admission is offered by the school management based on my request
for it;
2. That I will cooperate and support the school management on their efforts in improving
academic and moral excellence of the child involved;
3. That I will be purchasing necessary materials needed by the child for him/her on time;
4. That I will be paying the school fees as and when due without my child being sent home
for once;
5. That I will arrange extra lesson for the child in the school or at home;
6. That I will monitor his/her studying at home;
7. That if the child at the end of the academic session does not improve or meets up with the
promotion criteria which are 50% score in English, Mathematics and having 50% in
overall grade, the school management reserves the right to withdraw the admission or the
child repeats the present class.
Finally, I promise to cooperate with the management of Muflihun High School. Jazakumullahu
khairan.
Parent’s/Guardian’s Name/Signature________________________________________

SPECIMEN TWO
SCHOOL NAME
SUBJECT: CLASS: SESSION: 2020/2021
CURRICULUM COVERAGE EVALUATION SHEET
WEEKS FIRST (UNCOVERED) SECOND (UNCOVERED) THIRD (UNCOVERED)
WEEK
ONE
WEEK
TWO
WEEK
THREE
WEEK
FOUR
WEEK
FIVE
WEEK
SIX
WEEK
SEVEN
WEEK
EIGHT
WEEK
NINE
WEEK TEN
 SPECIMEN THREE
SCHOOL NAME
Term/Session: Class:
Subject: Subject Teacher:
PRACTICAL EVALUATION SHEET
WEEKS PRACTICAL TITLE PRINCIPAL'S REMARK

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

WEEK 6

WEEK 7

WEEK 8

WEEK 9

WEEK 10

SPECIMEN FOUR
IN RESPECT OF OCTOBER, 2021 MONTHLY CLEARANCE
Asalam Alaikum WarahmatuLlah Wabarakatuh esteemed staff.
This is to inform you all that October monthly clearance begins on Monday, 25th
October, 2021. Payment of salary follows it immediately. The records to be presented for
October clearance are:
1. Endorsed and updated diary up to week six;
2. Endorsed and updated lesson note up to week six;
3. Endorsed and updated attendance register (for class teachers);
4. Marking Guide for midterm examination;
5. Marks book containing students' scores in midterm examination;
6. NERDC Curriculum among other necessary document.
We expect compliance of all our dear staff. Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.
Signed
Proprietor, Payamori Schools
24th October, 2021

SPECIMEN FIVE
GUIDELINES FOR SETTING CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT AND TERMLY EXAMINATION
QUESTIONS
 In setting questions for midterm continuous assessment and termly examinations, all teaching staff should abide
by the provisions contained in the following guidelines:
1. Soft copy of all questions must be submitted to the principal's office on or before deadline of a particular
examination as contained in the school calendar which may be amended from time to time.
2. Those questions must be neatly typed, thoroughly proofread, accurately spaced and errors free.
3. Those questions must not leak out to students including those doing extra lesson with teachers.
4. Ten multiple choice and two theory questions are to be set for all subjects as midterm evaluation questions.
5. Such ten multiple choice questions constitute ten (10) marks while the two theory questions constitute ten
(10) marks to make twenty (20) marks.
6. BECE and WAEC standard format must be adopted in setting questions for JSS 3 and SSS 3 classes in
termly examinations. This includes MOCK questions for JSS3 and SSS3. The total scores for both
objective and theory questions will be sixty (60) marks in termly examinations and one hundred (100)
marks in MOCK.
7. Forty objective questions which constitute forty (40) marks and four theory questions which constitute
twenty (20) marks totaling sixty (60) marks must be set for JSS1, JSS2, SSS1 and SSS2 classes in termly
examinations. A teacher who wishes may set six theory questions out which students answer only four.
8. Questions should cut across all the topics taught not on few of them.
9. Teachers should avoid setting questions from uncovered topics.
10. Teachers who had set questions from some topics but unable to cover them due to one reason or the others
should edit the questions before final submission and printing.
11. Over 50% of the examination questions should be past questions standard.
12. Teachers should award marks to each question under theory section. This will help in having standard
marking guide.
13. All teachers must draft standard marking guide, submit it to the principal's office for approval and
judiciously use it for marking students' scripts as random checking of marking exercise may be carried out
by the school management.
14. All teachers are enjoined to abide by rules and regulations contained in the above guidelines.
15. Others may be added later. Thanks