As primary and secondary schools across Anambra State prepare to resume for the first term on September 17, the state government has announced plans to sanction approximately 2,000 unaccredited schools operating illegally in the state.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, revealed that these schools risk immediate closure if they fail to obtain the necessary approvals and accreditation before the resumption date. The discovery was made during a recent evaluation of accredited schools across the state’s 21 local government areas.
“The government of Anambra State is concerned that about 2,000 unaccredited/unapproved schools are operating across the 21 local government areas in the state,” Nwosu stated, adding, “This is unacceptable, given the priority that Governor Chukwuma Soludo, a first-class academic himself, has accorded quality education.”
He stressed that running a school without proper accreditation indicates non-compliance with the state’s education standards, set by the Ministry of Education. “Our children, irrespective of their location in Anambra State, deserve the best learning environment, teachers, and curriculum,” Nwosu added.
The commissioner further instructed all unaccredited schools to seek the necessary documentation from the Anambra State Ministry of Education and comply with accreditation requirements before resumption. “Failure to do this will attract dire sanctions and the risk of closure,” he warned.
Additionally, the list of approved schools will be distributed to local Education Departments for easy access, ensuring parents know where to enroll their children. Last week, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, cautioned parents against enrolling their children in unapproved schools, warning they could face prosecution as accomplices if they failed to comply.
The state government’s actions reflect its commitment to ensuring quality education and adherence to standards, as part of Governor Soludo’s broader educational reform efforts.
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