The Ebonyi State Government has sealed 283 illegal and substandard primary and secondary schools across the state over a two-year period, as part of efforts to enforce education standards.
This decisive action was confirmed by the State Commissioner for Education, Professor Paul Nwobasi, during an interactive session with journalists on Thursday in Abakaliki.
According to Nwobasi, the affected schools were scattered across various communities in the state and failed to meet the minimum requirements for registration, infrastructure, and curriculum quality.
Describing the trend of unapproved schools as “worrying,” the commissioner said the proliferation of such institutions posed a direct threat to the delivery of quality education in Ebonyi.
“The sealing of these schools is a deliberate strategy to uplift the standard of education in our state. We are determined to safeguard the future of our children from the dangers of poor education,” he said.
He urged proprietors of unregistered private schools to engage with the Ministry of Education for proper guidance on standardisation and official approval processes.
In addition to regulatory enforcement, the commissioner highlighted ongoing investments in the state’s public school infrastructure.
The state has commenced the construction of 39 classroom blocks for secondary schools across all 13 local government areas, averaging three new buildings per LGA.
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Similarly, 36 new classrooms are under construction in primary schools, with two buildings allocated to each LGA.
He further disclosed that 42 model school blocks—designed with modern, aesthetic architecture—are nearing completion, aimed at setting a benchmark for educational environments in the region.
The government’s clampdown aligns with broader reforms targeted at improving educational outcomes and closing gaps caused by years of infrastructural decay and regulatory lapses.
Nwobasi reiterated that improving literacy and learning conditions remained a top priority for the administration.
“This is about the future. We cannot allow mediocrity to flourish where excellence is needed,” he said.
The Ebonyi Ministry of Education also pledged continued monitoring to ensure compliance and called on communities to support the government’s efforts by reporting illegal school operations.
The Advocate
