Some residents of Port Harcourt have expressed mixed reactions over the recent ban on 1,886 schools across the 23 local government areas by the state government.
The state government said the affected schools were operating without government’s approval as well as failing to meet specified standards as stipulated by the State Ministry of Education.
Speaking to The Tide, Mr Kenneth Elekachi Amadi, a secondary school teacher, described the state government’s action as timely and courageous, adding that the measure taken would reduce the influence of quacks in the system.
He lauded the state government for taking the bold steps to address what he called the most societal problems adding that the measure would boost and promote qualitative education in the state.
Also speaking, Mrs Florence Mor Amadi, a parent of a ward at Meved Model School said that the governor’s decision was a welcome development, even if it would render many people jobless adding that the unemployment rate can be tackled through  the Federal Government N-power employment scheme for graduates.
She stated  that “the rate at which schools are being established in the state is very discouraging in terms of qualitative education and standard of their environment adding that they usually come out with the best results, due to examination malpractice, “the ban by the state government will help to improve the standard of schools.   In her own view, head teacher Mrs Ifeoma Stanley  that she was in full support with the governors in closing down what she described as mushroom schools adding that people  just wake up one morning and use a two bedroom flat as a school and employ O’level holders as teachers, stressing that government action would facilitate qualitative education. However, Mr Bekinbo Joy, a class teacher from one of the affected schools said, “the governor’s decision was rash, adding that it would adversely affect those parents who are not buoyant enough to fund their children’s education at bigger private schools.
Also speaking, a secondary school teacher, Miss Ijeoma Nwaopala, said that the ban on the affected schools would cause more harm than good to the state. According to her, the level of drop out students will be much and will lead to unemployment. She opined that some parents may not afford the cost of fees in the high private schools in town, “children will have to move to far distance just to attend high schools”, she stressed.

Amarachi Anene / Sylvester Onyeazor & Juliet Onyeanunam