Sunday, September 29, 2024 –The Enugu State Government has shut down several schools in the state capital due to alleged substandard conditions and illegal operations.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof.
Ndubueze Mbah, announced the closures on Saturday, September 28, during a
government-led enforcement exercise aimed at improving the quality of education
in the state.
Mbah explained that the exercise was
part of the government's strategy to rid the state of poor education standards
and address skill deficiencies.
He stated that some of the
schools closed include Evangel School, Ivory Education Centre (located on
Owerri Road, Asata), and Eastview Nursery and Primary School at Railway
Quarters, Njemanze.
Other institutions affected by the
shutdown include St. Michael Nursery and Primary School, Asata; St. Bartholomew
Nursery, Primary and Secondary School, Asata; and Olive Grove Nursery and
Primary Academy, Njemanze.
The closures follow the state's
earlier directive, which required all educational institutions at the Basic and
Secondary School levels to comply with regulations mandating registration and
approval by the Ministry of Education.
Prof. Mbah expressed concern over the
conditions found in some of the schools, noting that many operated in unsafe
environments with open roofs, collapsed rafters, and severely cracked walls,
endangering the lives of hundreds of pupils. He emphasized that these schools
were in blatant disregard of the state's guidelines for establishing and
managing educational institutions.
"The state government will not
compromise on its commitment to raising the bar for education," Mbah said,
stressing that the administration is focused on ensuring qualified teachers, a
strict adherence to the curriculum, and a safe, conducive learning environment.
He condemned the proliferation of
illegal schools across the state, where unqualified teachers and substandard
infrastructure put students at risk while proprietors exploit parents without
providing quality education.
“We sensitised our people about the
state government’s education policy and how education must align with the most
advanced global practices if our children are to acquire 21st-century skills
and compete with their global peers,” Mbah stated.
He revealed that a four-month grace
period had been given to unregistered schools to either regularize their
operations or obtain provisional licences, warning that the state will continue
its crackdown on non-compliant institutions as part of efforts to restore the
dignity of education in Enugu State.
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