The Etsu Kwali, Luka Nizassan, has decried the deplorable state of primary education in Abuja and called for urgent measures to address the challenge.

In an interview in his palace in Kwali Area Council, the traditional ruler said basic education in Abuja “is substandard and requires urgent policies to improve it.”

Mr Nizassan reiterated the urgent need for a stakeholders’ meeting for a total review and overhaul of the basic education system.

The traditional ruler also admonished those with oversight functions in primary schools to gear up and do the needful.

The Etsu stated that he drew the attention of the Local Education Authority to the challenge, stressing that it was not a community-based issue but a policy problem.

The Etsu added, “Ideally, public schools are supposed to set the standards for private schools. “If the public schools are turning out students from primary schools who cannot read and write, then what will become of the standard of the private schools?”

While appealing to FCT minister Nyesom Wike to address the problem, Mr Nizassan commended his intervention programme in renovating one of the oldest primary schools in the community.

(NAN)