THE Yobe State government has cancelled the licences of all private schools in the state and asked operators interested in following the laid rules and regulations to re-apply for new licences.
The state government also said henceforth activities of all private schools in the state will tally with that of public schools, saying that the proprietors will no longer be allowed to operate and set rules that violate the norms and values of the state.
State Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Muhammad Sani Idris, who disclosed this when he met with proprietors of private schools in a meeting at Government Girls Unity College Damaturu, on Thursday, added that no private school will operate without a licence and the era of taking shortcuts in the registration of private schools is over.
Addressing the Proprietors, Dr Muhammad Sani Idriss said the Yobe State government has taken measures to have absolute control of the education system in the state and frowned at the policies of some private schools which he said violate the norms and values of the people of the state.
He also added that henceforth private schools should operate in consonance with the public schools across the state.
He said, “We have cancelled the licences so that we would renew them. There was a time when some of the private schools were licensed but with the condition that they would meet some standard, but they have failed to meet up with this standard and they are still operating and the licences are with them.
“So, if you must operate a private school in Yobe State, you must play the game by its rules. That is why we decided to scrap and cancel all the licences. We are saying that you should re-apply and within a period of 30 days, you have your licences.
“Mind you, we have not closed any private schools but what we are saying is that any private school that is not licensed henceforth is not ready to play the game by its rules.
“What we have done is licences have been revoked, you can operate for a period of one month, come to us and purchase the form, we will assess your school and if you are qualified within a period of 30 days, you have backed your licence to operate and we are going to write all facts that we have to cancel all the licences owned by private schools. Therefore, parents should take note that we are going to also communicate with WAEC.”
The commissioner who notes that Yobe State government has approved dual curricular in all public schools said the policy will also be applied in private schools for interested children to memorize Qur’an and learn Arabic Language, adding that if a student or pupil is not interested in such, then they will have to learn French instead, so that they can graduate with at least two languages apart from their mother tongue.
Also speaking the Chairman of House Committee on Education and member representing Damagum Constituency at the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Maina Digma Gana, says the meeting was timely, assuring that the state legislature would support any move geared towards imparting standard knowledge to the upcoming generation.
On their part, some of the proprietors who spoke to newsmen shortly after the meeting, said the meeting came at the right time.
They however advised the government to make the upcoming licensing process flexible and quick, devoid of bureaucracy.