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The Ebonyi State Government has announced the arrest of over 88 school proprietors and teachers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria’s South-east.
The state Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary), Donatus Illang, disclosed this while briefing reporters on Thursday in Abakaliki, the state capital.
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Mr Illang explained that the proprietors and teachers were arrested for operating unapproved and illegal schools across the state.
The commissioner said the arrests became necessary to maintain high educational standards and safeguard the future of school children in the state.
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He warned proprietors against reopening or attempting to run illegal schools, adding that enforcement actions will continue until standards are restored.
“We cannot compromise the future of our children.
“These schools pose a grave danger to the education system because they fail to meet the minimum requirements for learning,” Mr Illang said.
‘Not a matter of who you know in government’
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the education ministry, Mary Otozi, warned that further arrests would be carried out if the proprietors and teachers continued to operate illegally.
Mrs Otozi urged anyone intending to open a school in the state to act with integrity and comply with the new policy outlining the minimum requirements for educational institutions in the state.
“We are determined to ensure a qualitative education system in the state. We are not going to leave any stone unturned to ensure that our schools are of high standards.
“It is not a matter of who you know in government or the connections you have. It is not about how much you can bring,” she said.
“What we are doing is to ensure that our children get the best. We can’t joke about their future.”
On his part, the Senior Special Assistant on Secondary Education to Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, Peter Nwogbaga, appealed to parents and guardians to enrol their children and wards in public or approved private schools.
Mr Nwogbaga stressed that Governor Nwifuru has “invested so much” in the education sector in the state and urged proprietors to consult the ministry for guidance on meeting regulatory requirements.
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