BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU
THE Delta State Government has announced the immediate closure of all private secondary schools operating without licenses.
This directive was issued by the Ministry of Secondary Education following growing concerns over the activities of such schools..
According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, the government observed that many of the unapproved schools do not have necessary facilities, employ unqualified teachers, and operate in unhealthy environments. She described the situation as worrisome and detrimental to the overall quality of education.
In response to these findings, the ministry said it has decided that urgent measures must be taken to sanitize private sector participation in the secondary education system. Ezewu emphasized that the unchecked proliferation of substandard schools undermines efforts to provide quality education and protect the interests of students and parents alike.
As part of the new directives, all unapproved secondary schools in Delta State have been given a 21-day ultimatum to formalize their status with the Ministry of Secondary Education. Ezewu warned that schools failing to comply within the stipulated period would face severe sanctions, including outright closure.
The commissioner urged proprietors of private schools to treat this directive with utmost seriousness, stressing that the ministry is determined to enforce compliance across the state.
She added that inspection teams would be deployed to monitor compliance and ensure that standards are strictly adhered to. She called on parents and guardians to verify the approval status of schools before enrolling their children, in order to safeguard the educational future of their wards. Public support, Mrs. Ezewu noted, is crucial in the ongoing efforts to further enhance the standard of education.
Ezewu reiterated that the directive forms part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening the quality and credibility of schools in the state.
