The Imo State House of Assembly has commenced moves to shut down unapproved private primary and secondary schools in the state over what it described as inadequate curriculum, unqualified teachers and non-conducive learning environment.
The move followed a motion moved by the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, who is also a member representing Ngor-Okpala Constituency, Obinna Egu who enjoined his colleagues to lend their support to the motion in order to save educational sector from imminent collapse.
He observed that most of the private schools in the state do not meet with the standard or requirements established by relevant government academic bodies.
Egu said that due to the non-legal existence of some of the schools which excluded them from routine checks by academic authorities, they indulged in unwholesome practices that are at variant with the laid down academic learning process.
He further pointed out that the unapproved private schools are characterized by non-standard academic curriculum and unqualified teachers which results in churning out ill informed students who may later in the future occupy important positions in the society.
The Ngor-Okpala lawmaker noted that the state cannot afford to endanger the academic future of its citizens by allowing the existence of unapproved private schools, saying that education plays vital role in the development and progress of any society.
He pointed out that according to a report from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, Imo ranked as the most educated state in Nigeria with literacy rate of 96.48% and as a result, cannot allow existence of private schools that are not approved by government to carry out further educational activities in order to forestall lowering the state’s academic status.
The house, after much deliberations on the motion resolved to urge the governor to direct the Ministry of Education to shut down all unapproved private primary and secondary schools in the state with immediate effect.
