By Nasir Shuaibu, Bauchi
BAUCHI — The Bauchi State Government has intensified efforts to sanitize the education sector, announcing plans to shut down 30 private schools operating without official registration.
Commissioner for Education, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, disclosed this on Wednesday during an inspection tour of selected private schools in Bauchi metropolis.
According to him, only 17 of the 47 schools inspected complied with the state’s registration requirements, while the remaining 30 were operating illegally.
He said the government would collaborate with the Ministry of Justice and the Bauchi State House of Assembly to establish a mobile court to prosecute defaulting school proprietors and enforce compliance with education regulations.
Abdulkadir Ibrahim explained that the exercise is part of the government’s commitment to improving the quality of education and ensuring that all private schools meet required operational standards.
“We are visiting these schools to assess their operations, strengthen collaboration with proprietors, and identify ways of improving the education sector in the state,” he said.
The commissioner described private schools as critical partners in educational development, but warned that the government would no longer tolerate institutions operating outside the law.
He stressed that both incentives and sanctions would be applied to ensure compliance with guidelines governing private schools.
Abdulkadir Ibrahim also commended the proprietors of Sunshine International Schools and Dolphin Marria Private Schools for maintaining acceptable standards, and urged them to sustain their efforts.
Responding, the school proprietors expressed appreciation for the commissioner’s visit, describing it as the first of its kind by a serving Commissioner for Education.
They also praised the cordial relationship between the Ministry of Education and private school operators.
Some pupils interviewed said the visit had inspired them to work harder in their studies and aspire to leadership roles in the future.
The commissioner was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary and other senior officials of the Ministry of Education during the inspection.
