Abia State Government shuts 100 illegal schools

The Government of Abia State has closed down over 100 illegal nursery, primary and secondary schools across the state in line with efforts to improve the standard of education in the state. To show its seriousness over the matter, the government announced that the premises of all the illegal school had been sealed off and that a tribunal would be set up to try the operators of the schools.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Monica Philips, who disclosed this to newsmen at a briefing in Umuahia yesterday, said  the illegal schools were used to perpetrate examination malpractices in the state. She said  despite previous warnings to illegal private schools and advice that their operators upgrade them, they refused hence the decision to closed them.

Philips did not, however,  disclose the exact number of schools affected by the closure, but noted that they  were hundreds. She said  officials of the ministry were still going round the state to identify other illegal schools.

According to her, the measures are part of government’s effort to ensure that the standard of education in Abia remains high.