Anambra to shutdown 2,000 unaccredited schools

As schools set to resume for first term academic activities across Anambra State on September 17, the state government has vowed to sanction no fewer than 2,000 unaccredited schools operating in the state.

The state Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, in a press statement on Thursday, stated that the affected schools risked closure if the operators did not obtain the necessary approvals and accreditation.

Nwosu said the schools were discovered to be operating illegally across the 21 local government areas of the state during the state’s recent evaluation of accredited schools.

He said, “The government of Anambra State is concerned that about 2,000 unaccredited/unapproved schools are operating across the 21 local government areas in the state.

“This is unacceptable, given the priority that Governor Chukwuma Soludo, a first-class academic himself, has accorded quality education.

“Setting up and running a school without requisite accreditation and approval is an indication that the school is not operating in accordance with the standards set by the government through the Ministry of Education.

"The government believes that all children in Anambra State deserve the best learning environment, teachers, and curriculum, regardless of their location."

Similarly, Nwosu stated that the state government has directed all the affected schools whose names are listed to obtain the requirements for proper accreditation and registration from the Anambra State Ministry of Education, and take immediate steps to comply before the resumption of schools. He warned that "Failure to do this will attract dire sanctions and risk of closure."

The commissioner added that the list of approved schools will be made available to the Education Departments of the Local Governments through the Transition Committee Chairmen for easy access.

Recall that the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, had last week warned parents in the state to enrol their children at only government-approved schools, vowing that they would be liable as accomplices in prosecution if they failed to do so.