From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Government has shut down 197 private schools in various parts of the state for operating below the required minimum standards.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting, said closure of the schools was in line with the determination of the government to reform the education sector.
Kanu informed that about 900 schools have so far been inspected in the ongoing school inspection exercise.
“The inspection of schools is ongoing, and as at the last count, about 900 schools have been inspected. A few of the schools are not so lucky; they failed the test of the required standards and they were shut down,” he stated.
He noted that the government had directed the staff of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) to relocate from their present office, explaining that as a proactive government, staff of the ASUBEB were evacuated from the building because its integrity and structure was suspicious.
He added that the government was doing everything possible to provide a permanent solution to the structure.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, in response to a question on the recent appointment of Transition Committee Chairmen by Gov Alex Otti, said those appointed were men of honour and integrity who are capable of managing the various local government areas in the state.