Akwa Ibom Govt orders closure of unapproved private schools

Akwa Ibom Govt orders closure of unapproved private schools

The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education has directed all unapproved and unauthorised private schools in the state to regularise their operations by 31 August 2026 or face closure.

In a statement signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Professor Ubong Essien Umoh, the Ministry expressed concern over the increasing number of private schools operating without official approval. It noted that the situation is inconsistent with the ARISE Agenda of Governor Pastor Umo Eno’s administration, which is committed to ensuring that every child in the state has access to quality education in safe, standardised, and approved learning environments.

The Ministry issued the following directives:

1. All private schools currently operating without approval from the Ministry of Education must regularise their status on or before 31 August 2026.
2. Any school that fails to comply by 1 September 2026 will be shut down, sealed, and its proprietors prosecuted in accordance with the law.
3. Parents and guardians are advised to enrol their children only in government-approved schools. Lists of approved schools are available from the Ministry of Education.

For further enquiries, the Ministry can be contacted at Block 10, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo, by telephone on 08022227164, or online at akwaibomstate.gov.ng.

Akwa Ibom Govt orders closure of unapproved private schools