Delta uncovers 18,000 illegal ‘miracle centre’ private schools

The committee on illegal private schools inaugurated by the Delta State Government recently has uncovered no fewer than 18, 000 illegal ‘Miracle Centre’ private schools operating across the state.

Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chiedu Ebie, who confirmed the development in Asaba yesterday, disclosed that six persons who claimed to be proprietors of some of the schools were arrested and handed over to the Police for prosecution.

“We have observed proliferation of illegal private schools operating in dingy environments, many of their proprietors and proprietresses are semi-illiterates. We also discovered that unsuspecting students desperately looking for six credits are enroll with them for as much as N40, 000 and above each,” he said.

Expectedly, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had in the recent times expressed concern over the state of affairs in the state’s education sector, particularly the falling standards, as a result of increasing activities of illegal private schools.

Investigations reveal that proliferation of illegal private schools in the state was caused by lack of strict adherence to the laid down procedures for approving private schools by the relevant government departments.

This has snowballed into a situation of chaos and apathy on the part of stakeholders and parents of students and pupils who attend the private schools.
Embarrassed by the situation, Okowa, gave matching orders to the Commissioner in charge of Basic and Secondary Education to urgently sanitize the system.

Consequently, the committee, headed by a retired principal was set up, leading to the discovery of the 18,000 illegal private schools. Further investigation revealed that most of the illegal private schools fell short of the requirements laid down by the state government for their establishment.

However, it was learnt that the promoters of these schools are highly placed politicians and semi-illiterates who are desperate to make more money.The Guardian checks revealed that the schools, located in Asaba, Ibusa, Okpanam and environs lack conducive learning environment, with inadequate classrooms, lack of water and toilets facilities, among other necessities.

Some unsuspecting students who spoke to The Guardian said they patronise the schools to enable them make their papers, adding that even though they pay between N40, 000 and N60, 000, they were sure of making eight or nine credits in the West African School Certificate examinations.