A total of 197 Private schools in Abia state have been shut down by the State Government for operating below government’s required minimum standard.
The Commissioner for Information and culture Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council Meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
Recall that the Abia State Government through it’s “Reclaim Our Schools Initiative”, embarked on the inspection of schools in the state in it’s efforts to reform the education sector and enhance education standards of private schools operating in the state.
Prince Kanu while emphasizing the present adminstration’s determination to reform the education sector, said the schools shut down fell short of governments minimum required standard.
He explained that the ongoing initiative reflects the state government’s commitment to reforming the education sector and added that the ongoing school inspection has covered approximately 900 schools so far.
Prince Kanu said; “The inspection of schools is ongoing, at the last count, about 900 schools have been inspected. A few of the schools have not been so lucky, they fell short of the required standards and they were shut down.
“That exercise is ongoing and it speaks to the determination of the state government to reform the education sector”.
The Commissioner noted that apart from the six roads already commissioned in Aba by Governor Alex Otti,additional three roads would soon be ready for commissioning while the Ministry of Works has been directed to effect repairs on Finbarrs road and the deplorable axis along Ahiaeke – Lodu Ndume road in umuahia.
On the Health Sector, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo disclosed that over Eight Thousand Abians have so far accessed the free medicare under the ongoing free Medical Services offered by the state government.
She said that the state Government in a bid to enhance the capacity of Cottage Hospital Aba, has retrofitted same while the facility would soon be reopened for public use.
Regarding the recently publicized caretaker committee list, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzo Nwachukwu, affirmed the credibility of the listed individuals and disclosed that list of Councillors would be released soon.
On the tenure of the Transition Committee members, Nwachukwu clarified that the Transition Committee members have a statutory six-month tenure, renewable by law.
