Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Anambra State Government has issued a directive to all private schools operating without official approval to regularise their status by September or risk being shut down.
The warning was issued in Awka by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, during a stakeholders meeting with proprietors of private schools.
Prof. Chuma-Udeh expressed dissatisfaction over the continued operation of unapproved schools despite multiple warnings and an extended grace period granted by the state.
“There are still many private schools in the state that have yet to be approved. The time given by the governor to shut down such schools has expired.
“This meeting is to know the reason for the delay in getting approval. But if by beginning of first term, those schools are yet to be approved, we will close them down.
“That is what the law stipulates and we have given enough grace,” she said.
The commissioner noted that she had obtained permission from the Governor to extend the grace period and has been restraining the task force from enforcing the shutdown, but proprietors have continued to delay.
“Even though I took permission from the governor to extend the time and have been holding back the task force, the owners of the schools are still delaying,” she stated.
During the meeting, some proprietors raised concerns about individuals impersonating government officials and attempting to extort money from them.
In response, the commissioner assured stakeholders that the ministry would investigate the matter.
