Ebonyi Govt Seals 7 Unregistered Privates Schools

The Ebonyi State government yesterday sealed seven unregistered private schools within and outside Abakaliki metropolis, the state capital.

The schools, most of which were said to be substandard, were sealed by the state commissioner for education, Dr Sunday Nwangele, while on routine inspection and monitoring of the 2022/2023 first term school resumption of both private and government schools in the state.

Some of the schools sealed include Saviour International School, Delight International School, Bible City School, Shalom Christian School and Ablaze of God School, among others.

Dr Nwangele who expressed regret that a good number of private schools in the state fall below standard, noted that no unregistered or substandard school would be allowed to operate in the state.

He described some of the private schools within the state capital as poultry houses and blamed parents for taking their children to such unacceptable premises for learning.

The commissioner who chased away pupils, students and teachers found within the school premises, condemned the use of residential and church buildings for running of schools adding that such places were converted to schools without the permission of the ministry of education.

Dr Nwangele noted that no responsible government would consciously allow unregistered and substandard schools to exist in their state for the sake of quality education adding that the decision by the state government to close such schools was done to sanitise the education system in the state.

The commissioner who also visited some public secondary schools in Abakaliki metropolis appealed to principals of such schools to always clear the weeds around the school environment noting that keeping the environment clean would help in reducing the dangers posed by rodents and other harmful objects attacking innocent school children.

The permanent secretary, ministry of education, Mr Sunday Okike who monitored schools in Ebonyi South Zone expressed concern that while teachers were on ground to carry out their duties, students and pupils were not in school for teaching and learning.

He called on parents to ensure that their children attend school regularly as teaching and learning had commenced in earnest across the state.