We will shut down all illegal private schools, Rivers State government declares
The government of Rivers State, under the administration of Barrister Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike, has vowed that all illegal private schools operating in the state would be shut down by the government.
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Announcing this at Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday, during a meeting with proprietors of private secondary schools, Governor Wike  said that the actions of his administration  were aimed at improving  the  quality of education in the state.
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The governor also declared that majority  of  principals of public secondary  schools  in the state would be suspended for charging  illegal  levies which placed unnecessary  burden on parents.
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He announced the setting up of a committee to undertake  the comprehensive audit of all private schools  in the state for the purpose of ascertaining  the quality of teachers in such schools, the nature of their  environment  and their operational capacity.Â
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He said: “This audit committee will work with stakeholders. Â All schools that are not approved would be shut down immediately. Â We cannot continue to have illegal schools in the state. “
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Governor  Wike informed  that henceforth no private school  would have permanent  approval, pointing  out  that all the private schools  would have temporary  approvals, subject to  periodic  reviews.
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Speaking on payment  of  levies, Governor Wike  said that his administration  has commenced  the process of harmonising  all rates to eliminate  multiple taxation and directed the Education Commissioner  to sanction major private schools that failed to attend the meeting.  He said that going forward the meeting would be held quarterly.Â
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He added that the Rivers State Government  would continue  to  support  private schools  through the provision  of  basic amenities, urging them to reciprocate by reducing the fees that they charged parentsÂ
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Speaking at the ocassion, Dr. Mrs.  Okechukwu Owhondah of Haruk Group of  Schools commended Governor Wike  for taking steps to improve the quality of education in the state.Â
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Also speaking was Dame Dr. Victoria Awuse of Butterstone Group of Schools  who warned against unwholesome and unethical  practices by private school owners. She appealed  to  the state government  to check the  excesses of the private school  owners.
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Professor Kaniye Ebeku, the state Commissioner for Education, Â assured that the Ministry would always work towards the improvement of education in the state.Â
