Following the plan to close 556 private schools believed to be operating illegally, about 100,000 pupils would be put out of school in the Federal Capital Territory.

The Department of Quality Assurance of the Education Secretariat of the FCT Administration has approved the closure of the schools as soon as the ministry gets funds to carry out the plan.

This was revealed on Tuesday by a member of the House of Representatives, Albert Adeogun.

Speaking on the ripple effects that the closure would cause, Adeogun said: “This will impact negatively on the future of the children and destroy the need to improve the literacy rate of Nigerians.”

He noted that closing the schools without placing the students in other schools would expose them to social vices and eventually crime.

“The closure of the schools without placing the children in other schools that can absorb the large population will expose the children to crime and abuse.”

“That may be the consequence of this policy. The children may become victims of unwanted and unfortunate circumstances by virtue of the closure of the schools.”

“They may never have the opportunity of furthering education which will not augur well for the country.”

He stated that the public schools in the Capital city were not enough to adequately cater for the educational necessities of the burgeoning population while explaining why so many private nursery and primary schools have been established in the city.

Presenting the matter before the legislators, Albert Adeogun moved the motion for the deliberation of the issue under Matters of Urgent Public Importance which was subsequently adopted unanimously by the whole House on Tuesday, March 1.

After deliberations, the House directed the Committee on FCT to look into the alleged plan to close the schools down and get back to the House in 4 weeks.

Adebayo Emuleomo