Anambra State government has directed all owners of private schools operating without official approval to obtain the necessary authorisation by September or face closure.
Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh gave the warning during a stakeholders meeting of proprietors of private schools in Awka, yesterday.
Chuma-Udeh questioned the reasons for the delay in securing the necessary approvals, in spite of multiple warnings and an extended grace period.
She said further delay would not be tolerated.
“There are many private schools that are yet to be approved. The time given by the governor to shut down such schools has expired.
“Even though I took permission from the governor to extend the time which has been holding back the task force, the owners of the schools are still delaying.
“This meeting is to know the reason for the delay in getting approval. But if by the beginning of first term, those schools are yet to be approved, we will close them down.
“That is what the law stipulates and we have given enough grace,” she said.
Some proprietors alleged that impostors pretending to be government officials had visited their schools to extort money.
The commissioner promised to look into the complaint and act accordingly.
