Tension as inspection of private schools begins tomorrow in Abia

The Abia State Ministry of Education has notified proprietors of private schools in the State that inspection and evaluation of their schools would commence on Tuesday, 31st October 2023.

The education ministry has also ordered all the private schools already on mid-term break to bring back their pupils for the inspection.

In a press statement signed by the Commissioner for Education, Professor Uche-Eme-Uche, the state government threatened to sanction any school that failed to adhere to the directive or refused to cooperate with government inspectors.

“Abia State Ministry of Education will embark on inspection and evaluation of private schools in the State starting from Tuesday 31st October, 2023.

“To this end, all proprietors of private schools are advised to make their school premises accessible for the team of inspectors visiting the schools.

Advertisement

“Also the afforementioned schools are by this announcement directed not to go on midterm break, while those already on midterm break are advised to cancel it and bring back their students/pupils to school.

“Note that any school that fails to adhere to this directive or cooperate with the inspectors will face government sanctions. Please be properly guided,” the statement read.

Newspot gathered that some private schools, especially pre-nursery, nursery and primary, may fail the ministry’s standard tests on the quality of facilities, locations of schools and teacher quality standards.

Our correspondent gathered that some private schools located in Umuahia and Aba are apprehensive of what their fates may be after the inspection and as a result, have rushed to put their schools in order before the arrival of the inspectors.

Eme-Uche had in July said her ministry would sanitize the education sector in the State, declaring that the days of substandard schools were over in Abia.

In October 2022, the immediate past administration of Okezie Ikpeazu closed down seven private schools in Aba for operating illegally and for allegedly keeping kids in “unfriendly environment”.