Lafia - The Nasarawa Commissioner for Education, Mr Hussaini Abubakar, has said that the state government would soon shut down more than 300 private schools found to be operating illegally.
Abubakar disclosed this on Wednesday in Lafia when he received members of the state Assembly Committee on Education on an oversight function to the ministry.
He said the unregistered schools were discovered following a recent census of schools by the ministry, adding that the names of the schools would soon be made public.
He said he was not happy with the habit of some school principals who extort money from students to register them for WAEC and NECO examinations even as the state government had paid for all the students.
Abubakar warned the principals to desist from such acts or be ready to face the wrath of the law as the government would not hesitate to punish anyone found culpable.
``We are also aware that the principals who extorted from unsuspecting students do so in collaboration with some staff of the ministry.
``But let me assure you that we are investigating the issue, and anyone found wanting will face disciplinary action,’’ he said.
Abubakar also said government had banned acceptance of external students to take WAEC and NECO examinations in public schools in a bid to curtail the rate of examination malpractice.
He, therefore, called on the House of Assembly to support the effort of the government to revamp and sanitise the education sector in order to ``safeguard the future of our children’’.
Earlier, the committee chairman, Mr Richard Dogara-Sa’aka, said that the legislators were on an oversight assignment to ascertain the ministry’s 2012 budget performance.
He assured the commissioner that the assembly would always support its effort at sanitising the education sector.
Dogara-Sa’aka said the committee would appeal to the governor on the need to provide about 10 utility vans to the ministry for effective monitoring of activities. (NAN)The Nasarawa Commissioner for Education, Mr Hussaini Abubakar, has said that the state government would soon shut down more than 300 private schools found to be operating illegally.
Abubakar disclosed this on Wednesday in Lafia when he received members of the state Assembly Committee on Education on an oversight function to the ministry.
He said the unregistered schools were discovered following a recent census of schools by the ministry, adding that the names of the schools would soon be made public.
He said he was not happy with the habit of some school principals who extort money from students to register them for WAEC and NECO examinations even as the state government had paid for all the students.
Abubakar warned the principals to desist from such acts or be ready to face the wrath of the law as the government would not hesitate to punish anyone found culpable.
``We are also aware that the principals who extorted from unsuspecting students do so in collaboration with some staff of the ministry.
``But let me assure you that we are investigating the issue, and anyone found wanting will face disciplinary action,’’ he said.
Abubakar also said government had banned acceptance of external students to take WAEC and NECO examinations in public schools in a bid to curtail the rate of examination malpractice.
He, therefore, called on the House of Assembly to support the effort of the government to revamp and sanitise the education sector in order to ``safeguard the future of our children’’.
Earlier, the committee chairman, Mr Richard Dogara-Sa’aka, said that the legislators were on an oversight assignment to ascertain the ministry’s 2012 budget performance.
He assured the commissioner that the assembly would always support its effort at sanitising the education sector.
Dogara-Sa’aka said the committee would appeal to the governor on the need to provide about 10 utility vans to the ministry for effective monitoring of activities.
NAN