Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Abia State Government says it has shut down at least 197 ‘substandard’ private schools in different parts of the state.
The action, according to the State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, was part of measures by the Dr Alex Otti-led administration to sanitise and reform the education sector.
Kanu who was addressing newsmen at the Government House, Umuahia, after the state Executive Council meeting, said the new administration in the state had zero tolerance for quackery.
The Commissioner said that about 900 private schools in the state had so far been inspected in the ongoing inspection of private schools.
Government embarked on the inspection exercise following observations that some private schools in the state were substandard, a development he said was a threat to the education sector.
He said that Government would not stay back and watch selfish individuals abuse the education sector for their selfish interests.
The Commissioner assured that education would receive priority attention under the watch of Governor Otti.
