The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Imo State has banned the operation of private schools in residential apartments.
The ministry in a statement captioned, “Closure and Withdrawal of Approvals and Licenses of Private Schools operating in residential Apartments in Imo State” signed by the Commissioner, Professor B.o.T Ikegwuoha reads, “1. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has by this notification REVOKED and WITHDRAWN the approval and licences of private schools that are presently housed and operating in apartments, in Imo State. Consequently therefore;
2. Schools operating in residential apartments in Imo State with or without approvals and licenses have by this notice and announcement been duly informed that such illegally obtained approvals and licenses are hereby REVOKED and PERMANENTLY WITHDRAWN.
3. Parents, guardians and all stakeholders are by this notice or announcement requested to have their children, wards withdrawn from such schools operating illegally in residential apartments and re-registered them in duly approved schools: private or public
Withdrawals of Approvals and Licenses of Private Schools operating in Housing Estates in Imo State
1. All private schools operating in Privately Owned Housing Estates or at any Federal or Imo State Housing Estates, particularly and especially the in Housing Estates’ layouts or areas that are not exclusively earmarked and designated for schools purposes, should note that by this notice and announcement their APPROVAL LETTERS and LICENSES are hereby REVOKED and immediately WITHDRAWN.
2. For all other private schools duly established and legally operating in Housing Estates’ earmarked and designated layouts for schools, this revocation and withdrawal of approval letters and licenses did not affect your schools insofar as you immediately provide to the Universal Basic School Education (UBSE) Department and/Quality Assurance (QA) Department of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education with copies of your Housing Estates’ Master Plans, showing that your schools are operating in layouts particularly, specifically and exclusively constructed, established, sited and designated for school purposes, in conformity with the Housing Estates MASTER PLAN and in accordance with duly signed, stamped and sealed authorization approval letters from the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA), Cities or any of the 27 Local Government Areas’ (LGAs) Building Planning Authority in Imo State.
Sanctions for Non-Compliance of Government Policy on Education in Imo State
Proprietors of Private Schools in Imo State should note that failure to comply with the conditions outlined in this notice and announcement will result in punitive sanctions, including but not limited to immediate distribution of their pupils and students to nearby schools.
MONITORING AND INSPECTION TEAM OF THE MINISTRY
The monitoring and inspection teams from UBSE and QA Departments of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will go round to ensure compliance to the above listed directives”.
