The Kaduna State commissioner for education, Mallam Mohammed Usman, has disclosed that the state government has closed 457 illegal private schools out of the 642 schools operating in the state without registration.

The commissioner further added that about 185 more of such schools operating illegally would be closed down in the second phase of the exercise, saying that records are being crosschecked accordingly.

He disclosed that 331 of the illegal schools were closed down within Kaduna zone, 81 from Zaria axis while 43 were closed down from Kafanchan zone, adding that some of the closed schools, aside not being registered, operated outside the proper curriculum in shops, half plots of land and in garages.

Usman reiterated that some of the illegal schools have been operating for upward of 10 years without necessary registration, warning that the state government will henceforth not tolerate illegal schools.

He further stated that the closed schools have between now and the end of the month to regularise their registration, but stressed that, until that is done, the schools remain closed.

When contacted, one of the closed schools’ owner, Mrs Hannatu Sambo of Revival Nursery, Primary and College, claimed that her school has been registered as a baby school with the main branch and the ministry and expressed surprise that her school will be among the closed schools.

On issues relating to multiple taxation in private schools, the commissioner said a committee has been set up by the state government to look at the issues and come up with recommendations that will help to correct the issues, while the government is also addressing issues of indiscriminate increase of school fees.

Read more: Leadership News