The Imo State House of Assembly is taking steps to shut down unapproved private primary and secondary schools due to concerns about inadequate curricula, unqualified teachers, and unsatisfactory learning environments.
This initiative was sparked by a motion from Obinna Egu, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and representative for Ngor-Okpala Constituency. Egu called on his colleagues to support the motion to safeguard the educational sector from potential collapse.
Egu highlighted that many private schools in the state fail to meet the standards set by relevant educational authorities. He noted that the lack of legal recognition for some of these institutions prevents them from undergoing regular inspections, leading to practices that deviate from established academic protocols.
He emphasized that unapproved private schools often employ unqualified teachers and utilize substandard curricula, resulting in poorly informed graduates who may eventually hold significant positions in society.
The lawmaker asserted that Imo State, known for its high literacy rate of 96.48%, as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics, cannot afford to jeopardize the academic future of its citizens by allowing unapproved schools to operate. He underscored the importance of education in societal development and progress.
After thorough discussions, the Assembly resolved to urge the governor to instruct the Ministry of Education to immediately shut down all unapproved private primary and secondary schools across the state.
