Private Schools Must Upgrade Or Risk Closure – Proprietors

National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Abia State chapter has warned that private schools in the state that failed to upgrade their standard risk closure.

The chapter’s secretary, Marshall Ochionu handed down the warning while speaking to LEADERSHIP at the 2025 NAPPS’ Day celebration in Umuahia, the state capital.

Ochionu was responding to a question on the likely consequences of the state government’s ongoing general overhauling of public schools on the private schools.

His words, “It is a welcome development as it is also a challenge for the private schools to improve their standard along with what the government is doing.

“Most of us are sole proprietors and don’t have the financial muscle to compete with the government; nevertheless, we must do the needful to remain afloat.”

Therefore, Ochionu urged the government to consider areas in which it could assist private schools in upgrading their standards to meet its expectations in the sector.

He argued that as co-partners with the government in the development of the state, such interventions would go a long way to encourage private enterprise.

He denied the assertion that private schools are the major culprits in the decline in speaking of Igbo language among Ndigbo  especially the younger generation.

According to him, those who make the assertion should understand that “we’re living in a mixed society where English language is the commonest means of communication”.

“We’re doing our best to ensure our pupils and students speak Igbo.

We encourage them and make sure they register for it in external examinations,” he added.