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The Enugu State Government has shut down several schools in the state capital due to alleged substandard conditions and illegal operations.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, announced the closures on Saturday, September 28, during a government-led enforcement exercise aimed at improving the quality of education in the state.
Mbah explained that the exercise was part of the government’s strategy to rid the state of poor education standards and address skill deficiencies.
He stated that some of the schools closed include Evangel School, Ivory Education Centre (located on Owerri Road, Asata), and Eastview Nursery and Primary School at Railway Quarters, Njemanze.
Other institutions affected by the shutdown include St. Michael Nursery and Primary School, Asata; St. Bartholomew Nursery, Primary and Secondary School, Asata; and Olive Grove Nursery and Primary Academy, Njemanze.
The closures follow the state’s earlier directive, which required all educational institutions at the Basic and Secondary School levels to comply with regulations mandating registration and approval by the Ministry of Education.
Prof. Mbah expressed concern over the conditions found in some of the schools, noting that many operated in unsafe environments with open roofs, collapsed rafters, and severely cracked walls, endangering the lives of hundreds of pupils. He emphasized that these schools were in blatant disregard of the state’s guidelines for establishing and managing educational institutions.
“The state government will not compromise on its commitment to raising the bar for education,” Mbah said, stressing that the administration is focused on ensuring qualified teachers, a strict adherence to the curriculum, and a safe, conducive learning environment.
He condemned the proliferation of illegal schools across the state, where unqualified teachers and substandard infrastructure put students at risk while proprietors exploit parents without providing quality education.
“We sensitised our people about the state government’s education policy and how education must align with the most advanced global practices if our children are to acquire 21st-century skills and compete with their global peers,” Mbah stated.
He revealed that a four-month grace period had been given to unregistered schools to either regularize their operations or obtain provisional licences, warning that the state will continue its crackdown on non-compliant institutions as part of efforts to restore the dignity of education in Enugu State.
