By: Jibrin Hussaini Kundum, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government through the Ministry of Education has announced plans to close all illegally operating private schools as part of efforts to sanitize and reposition the state’s education sector.
The State Commissioner for Education, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, disclosed this during an inspection tour of private schools in Bauchi metropolis, where he led the ministry’s management team to assess compliance with educational standards.
The inspection began at Sunshine International School and ended at Dolphin Maria College, where students and staff gave the commissioner and his entourage a warm welcome.
Speaking during the visit, Abdulkadir Ibrahim said the exercise was aimed at evaluating teaching and learning, as well as other academic activities, to ensure that schools provide quality education in line with government policies.
The commissioner expressed concern over the number of unregistered private schools operating across the state and revealed that the ministry had constituted a committee to identify and clamp down on illegal operators.
According to him, only 17 out of the 42 private schools inspected on the first day of the exercise were found to be duly registered with the ministry.
He warned that any school operating without the necessary approval would be shut down totally, stressing that the government would not tolerate practices capable of undermining educational standards.