Parents of students from the 13 local government areas in Ebonyi State have expressed strong opposition to the recent shutdown of over 85 unauthorized primary and secondary schools, a move initiated by the State Ministry of Education (Primary and Secondary).
Under the new educational directive, the state government has begun closing down illegal and substandard schools, resulting in the dismissal of numerous teachers, the detention of some school owners, and the refusal to refund fees already paid by parents. Consequently, parents are now compelled to re-register their children in officially recognized institutions.
Several parents voiced their disappointment to LEADERSHIP on Friday, criticizing the timing of the policy’s enforcement. They argued that such significant changes should have been communicated well in advance, ideally before the start of the academic year.
Mr. Chukwu Onwe, a concerned parent, remarked, “Implementing school closures just a week after the term has begun is poorly timed. Many of us had already settled school fees in anticipation of the new session.”
He added, “There was no prior broadcast or announcement listing the unapproved schools, which would have allowed us to reconsider enrolling our children. This situation has left many families feeling frustrated and disillusioned.”
Mrs. Ifeoma Nwuzor also shared her grievances, highlighting that proprietors of these unlicensed schools have largely refused to reimburse parents for fees paid, urging the state government to intervene.
“The Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki diocese instructed all church-owned unapproved schools to return fees to parents, which they complied with. Unfortunately, other school owners have stubbornly declined to refund any money,” she explained.
“This has forced many parents into paying twice and registering their children again. Additionally, several private schools have increased their fees due to the sudden surge in student enrollment.”
LEADERSHIP Friday further reported that in Ezza North local government area alone, over 49 schools were shut down, and five proprietors were arrested by the taskforce assigned to enforce the policy.
Moses Ogodo-Ali, chairman of Ezza North LGA, confirmed in an interview that the closures align with the state government’s directive to shut down all illegal schools.
“The government’s policy mandates the closure of unauthorized schools. As someone who respects government regulations, I approved the Ministry of Education’s committee to carry out this task once I was briefed and informed that the directive was publicly announced,” he stated.
Chief Ogodo-Ali cautioned against politicizing the initiative, emphasizing that the goal is to cleanse and elevate the state’s educational standards. “Many individuals bypass the proper procedures when establishing schools. Those who adhere to the correct process have nothing to fear,” he added.
Mr. Elom Solomon, an education supervisor and member of the taskforce in Ezza North, explained, “Our mandate is to identify and close down unapproved and substandard schools, particularly those operating in rural areas.”
“Some of these schools function in open halls or single rooms. We are committed to enforcing the government’s policy, but we will not shut down any school that meets Ebonyi State’s educational standards,” he assured.
Education Secretary for Ezza North LGA, Mr. Nwonuku Francis, confirmed, “We have closed 49 substandard and unapproved schools in the area. Several proprietors are currently in police custody.”
He stressed, “The new policy has been widely publicized, so claims of ignorance are misleading. The era of lax regulation is over. This administration is resolute in raising the quality of education in Ebonyi State. Our ambition is to lead in all sectors, and that requires strict adherence to educational standards.”
Mr. Francis urged parents to enroll their children only in government-approved schools to ensure quality education and compliance with state regulations.
