The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Delta state chapter has accused governor Ifeanyi Okowa led administration of registering over 2,000 unqualified private schools which has led to the mass failure recorded in Delta State at the primary school level especially the primary six and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The Proprietors of Private Schools Association while warning governor Okowa to desist from such act, it said it will not hesitate to have a severe show down with him.
According to the Association, the unrestricted approvals of private schools by the state government revealed through a survey carried out in Delta North Senatorial District of the state indicated that over 2,000 approved private schools in Oshimili South and North council areas were in severe disrepair and below standard.
The Association displeasure was made known in a letter signed by its chairmen in the affected council areas, Mr Austin Onodarho and Mr. Callistus Ofonye, in Asaba, addressed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, copied Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori and chairman, house Committee on Education and made available to newsmen.
The letter which expressed bitterness over the standard of education said to have dropped drastically in the state, pointed out that the existence of quack private schools largely contributed to the mass failure which the state recorded in the last primary six and BECE examinations.
While calling for caution, the Association wondered why corrupt government officials in the education sector of the state would not do thorough findings before approving schools, threatening that standard private schools in the aforementioned council areas would stop paying tax or pay for license renewal as from 2018, if the state government fails to close down the unqualified schools.
“Delta state government should take a cue from Akwa-Ibom state which recently closed down over 700 schools in one fell swoop and threatened to prosecute the promoters if they re-open them. Where all entreaties fail, we shall not hesitate to convene another emergency meeting to mobilize members to protest against the madness in education sector. Besides that, no private school in the two council area will pay tax or pay for license renewal next year if the state government fails to take decisive action against their owners”, the statement read.
The association maintained that by willfully granting approval to individuals to convert their dilapidating churches, sachet water companies, hotels and plazas, to schools without due process, the future of the children of the state were being mortgaged.
They urged the state government to strengthen the inspectorate department of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for effective monitoring, even as it rejected, what he described as “Jamboree NAPPS WEEK” being proposed in the state.