Ebonyi State Government has arrested 88 proprietors and teachers for running unapproved and illegal schools across the state.
According to the government, this is part of its intensified fight against substandard education.
NATIONAL POST learnt that in the past few days, the Ministry of Education in the state has engaged in thorough inspection exercises tailored towards ascertaining the status of all the private schools in the state.
The exercise led to the discovery that several institutions were operating without proper accreditation.
Many of the schools were found to lack qualified teachers, standard facilities, and approved curricula, prompting authorities to order their immediate closure.
Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki on Thursday, the Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary), Dr. Donatus Illang, said the crackdown was necessary to safeguard the future of children in the state.
“We cannot compromise the future of our children,” Illang declared. “These schools pose a grave danger to the education system because they fail to meet the minimum requirements for learning.”
The commissioner explained that those arrested are currently being investigated, with legal actions expected to follow.
He issued a stern warning to other proprietors still flouting government regulations, stressing that the state will not hesitate to take similar steps against them.
Illang also urged parents to verify the accreditation status of schools before enrolling their wards, while calling on communities to report any suspected illegal learning centres.
Meanwhile, those arrested are yet to provide their own side of the story as of the time of filing this report.
