The Enugu State Government has shut down some schools in the state capital, over alleged substandard and illegal operation.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, made this known on Saturday during the enforcement of government’s policy on ways to boost and enhance the quality of education in the state.
Mbah said that the exercise was meant to rid the state of poor education quality and skill deficiency.
According to the commissioner, some of the affected schools were Evangel School, Ivory Education Centre, located on Owerri Road, Asata and Eastview Nursery and Primary School at Railway Quarters, Njemanze.
Others included St Michael Nursery and Primary School, Asata; St Bartholomew Nursery, Primary and Secondary School, Asata; and Olive Grove Nursery and Primary Academy, Njemanze.
He said that the exercise followed the ministry’s earlier directive requiring all the operators of educational institutions at the Basic and Secondary School levels to comply with the state regulations.
Mbah added that government made registration and approval by the ministry mandatory for any school to operate.
He regretted that some of the schools visited were operating under open-roof, fallen rafters and severely cracked walls housing hundreds of pupils under abysmal learning environment.
He said that the situation was in complete disregard of the rules guiding the establishment and management of educational institutions.
Mbah said that the state government would not compromise on its determination to raise the bar for education by ensuring competent and qualified teachers, adherence to the curriculum, conducive learning environment and other safety measures for students.
He described the proliferation of illegal schools across the state, where unscrupulous proprietors rip off parents without providing commensurate quality education for their children, as worrisome and unacceptable.
According to him, some schools paraded unqualified teachers, while cramping children in dilapidated structures that put their lives in danger.
“We sensitised our people about the state government’s education policy and how education must align with the most advanced global practices, if our children can have a chance to acquire 21st Century skills and modern workforce knowledge and be able to compete with their global peers.
“We gave them four months grace for all schools yet to register or obtain provisional licences to do so.
“And we are doing this to checkmate abuses and restore the dignity of education in our state,” the commissioner said.