Rivers government set to shutdown un-licensed private schools

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said that the State Government will shut down all illegal private schools in the state.

The governor also announced that majority of principals of public secondary schools in the state will be suspended for charging illegal levies which placed unnecessary burden on parents.

Wike said this during a meeting with proprietors of private secondary schools in Government House, Port Harcourt.

He said the actions of his administration were aimed at improving the quality of education in the state.

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.

According to him, “This audit committee will work with stakeholders. All schools that are not approved would be shut down immediately. We cannot continue to have illegal schools in the state.”

The Governor declared that henceforth no private school will have permanent approval, pointing out that all the private schools will have temporary approvals, subject to periodic reviews.

On the payment of levies, Governor Wike said that his administration had commenced the process of harmonising all rates to eliminate multiple taxation.

He 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.

The governor added that the Rivers State Government will continue to support private schools through the provision of basic amenities.

He urged them to reciprocate by reducing the fees that they charged parents.

#Wike