The Imo State Government has announced plans to begin a statewide clampdown on all illegal private primary and secondary schools operating across its 27 local government areas, warning that proprietors who flout the directive will face arrest and prosecution.
This was disclosed in a statement issued over the weekend by the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, who said the ministry would also target schools with expired approval letters and those that had reopened illegally after closure.
According to the commissioner, the exercise will be part of the government’s effort to restore order, enforce standards, and protect the integrity of the education system in the state.
“This is to inform all private proprietors of schools (nursery, primary, and secondary) that monitoring of schools and closure of illegal private schools and schools operating with expired approval letters will soon commence effectively across the state,” the statement read.
Ikegwuoha warned proprietors of schools previously shut down for non-compliance not to reopen their facilities without proper authorisation.
“Any proprietor who reopens a school marked for closure without regularisation will be arrested by the police,” he stated.
The commissioner stressed that the Ministry of Education would not take responsibility for any consequences arising from such arrests, describing the move as the final warning to defaulters.
He further reiterated the state government’s commitment to ensuring that only accredited and properly regulated schools operate in Imo, noting that the crackdown aims to safeguard students, uphold educational quality, and prevent exploitation by unapproved operators.
