The Akwa Ibom State Government has intensified its efforts to sanitize the education sector by shutting down several private schools found to be operating without proper authorization. The move, spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, comes as part of a renewed drive to uphold standards and ensure that children in the state learn in safe and conducive environments.
Commissioner for Education, Ubong Essien Umoh, disclosed the exercise through his official LinkedIn page, stressing that the ministry remains committed to safeguarding students’ welfare. He personally led a team of senior officials—including the Permanent Secretary, Directors, Zonal Directors, Local Government Supervisors of Education, and the Special Assistant on Education Monitoring—on a large-scale inspection of schools across Uyo and Nsit Ibom.
During the operation, the ministry uncovered disturbing practices among proprietors who had converted abandoned buildings, makeshift structures, uncompleted houses, and even residential apartments into learning centers. Commissioner Umoh condemned these illegal expansions, noting that schools licensed only for nursery education had unlawfully grown to include primary and secondary sections without approval.
The inspection also revealed unsafe and unhygienic conditions in some institutions. Reports indicated overcrowded classrooms where multiple classes shared a single blackboard, makeshift rooms constructed over septic tanks, and small cubicles partitioned into classrooms with little or no ventilation or sanitary facilities. The Commissioner described the findings as “deeply troubling” and a serious risk to the physical and educational well-being of students.
In response, the government ordered the immediate closure of several schools, including Gracious Steps Royal Academy, Toppers Academy, Houston International Schools, Purple Hills Schools, Sparkling Height Schools, Beloved Child of God International School, Glorious Future Academy, Spring Success International School, and Marcus Garvey Drillers Foundation Schools. All affected institutions were located within Uyo and Nsit Ibom Local Government Areas.
Commissioner Umoh urged proprietors of nursery, primary, and secondary schools currently operating without proper registration to regularize their status with the Ministry of Education. He emphasized that only schools that meet regulatory standards and possess the Ministry’s Authority to Operate (ATO) would be allowed to function moving forward.
Parents and guardians were also cautioned against enrolling their children in unlicensed schools. The Commissioner warned that doing so could endanger children’s safety and compromise the quality of education they receive. He stressed that the Ministry will intensify enforcement across both urban and rural communities throughout the new academic year.
According to him, the clampdown sends a strong message that the state is fully committed to restoring order in the education system. “Our priority is the safety of our children and the quality of education they receive. No unauthorized school will be allowed to compromise these standards,” he said.
