Fides Media Living the Faith
…Pupils, Students to Miss Exams
By Ikeugonna Eleke
It is bad news for unapproved schools in Anambra State as the state government has announced its resolve to shut down about 1,075 of such primary and secondary schools.
The notice which listed all the 1,075 schools and their locations was posted on the website of the Anambra State Ministry of Education.
The notice read: “The list of unapproved schools in Anambra State has been made public by the Ministry of Education. The under-listed schools are not authorized to function in the state and are, as a result, now declared to be public information.
“By doing this, pupils and students in these schools run the risk of being barred from participating in any state or federal exams, including the Transition Placement Exams, First School Leaving Examination Exams, Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE), Senior School Certificate Exams (WAEC/NECO), etc.
“Owners of such schools are advised, for their own benefit, to register their establishments and adhere to the procedures for school inspection.”
Parents were advised to immediately withdraw their children from the schools and make alternative plans to enroll them in state-approved schools.
Though the notice was unsigned and when Fides contacted the Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, she confirmed that the notice was from her Ministry, saying it had just been uploaded to the website by the information unit of the ministry.
This development is certain to put many schools and parents in panic mode but is still a development many feel will be for the overall good of education in the state, given the proliferation of schools, especially private schools.