Teacher Hails Ban On Schools In Rivers

Some residents of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have expressed mixed reactions over the recent ban on 1886 schools across the 23 local government areas by the state government.
The state government had through the Ministry of Education three months ago, announced and published the names of the affected schools and directed that the schools be closed down from the next academic session which will commence in September, this year.
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.
The State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike had last week, while granting audience to the management and staff of Jesuit Memorial College, Mbodo Aluu, said the state government was not rescinding its decision.
Governor Wike said that parents patronising the affected schools had been told to relocate their wards before the next academic session commences in September, adding that the  measure was aimed at strengthening the education sector in the state.
The governor also explained that most of the illegal schools were been used to perpetrate examination malpractice in the state.
While  some people commended the state government on the step taken to rejuvenate qualitative education system in the state, others are of the opinion that the measure was too harsh and has the capacity of increasing the rate of unemployment in the state.
Speaking to The Tide, Mr Chinwendu Nwubi, a 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.
Nwubi was of the opinion that the problem the society is undergoing today was as a result of half-baked graduated churned out to the society.
He lauded the state government for taking the bold steps to address what he called the most societal problems adding that the measure will boost and promote qualitative education in the state.