Ebonyi State, Nigeria, February 5, 2024: The Ebonyi State Government has expressed deep concern over the proliferation of illegal schools within the state and issued a stern warning to those involved to cease such activities immediately. Mr. Peter Nwogbaga, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi on Secondary Education, conveyed this message during an inspection of schools in Ohaukwu Local Government Area.
Nwogbaga emphasized the worrisome nature of the situation and attributed the rise in illegal schools to the support provided by churches. He urged individuals and groups to refrain from engaging in such activities and called on the proprietors of unapproved private schools to collaborate with Ministry of Education officials to establish standard schools and obtain necessary approvals.
Mrs. Ifoma Agwu, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Education, strongly condemned the practice of conducting classes under trees and in unapproved environments. She warned against the operation of unapproved schools and asserted that the state government would not tolerate the continued existence of illegal schools under such conditions.
To address the issue, Mr. Tony Ngwuta, Director of Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Education, highlighted that the purpose of the inspection was to sanitise the private school system in the state. Several schools, including Shalom Nursery and Primary School, Cathedral Methodist Nursery and Primary School, Holy Family Nursery and Primary School, and Christian Child Nursery and Primary School, among others, were sealed as part of the ongoing efforts.
In response, the proprietors of the affected schools insisted that they had obtained government approval to operate schools within their church premises. The situation raises concerns about the coordination between private schools and regulatory authorities, emphasising the need for clear communication and adherence to educational standards.
