Rivers State Government to Close Illegally Operating Private Educational Institutions

The Rivers State Government has unveiled plans to launch a statewide crackdown on unregistered private schools, with the aim of shutting them down, according to a public notice issued by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday.

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This exercise is slated to commence on Monday, June 15, 2026, and will affect schools operating without the requisite registration and approval from the Ministry of Education, as well as approved private schools that have defaulted on their financial obligations to the state.

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Dr. Peters Nwaogor, the Commissioner for Education, has urged proprietors of affected schools to take prompt action to regularise their status and settle all outstanding fees, thereby avoiding sanctions.

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He warned that any private school operating without approval, or those failing to meet the prescribed standards, will be closed down in line with the Private Schools Law and other relevant state regulations.

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A statement from the Ministry of Education, issued through the State Quality Assurance Services (SEQAS), served as a formal notification to private school proprietors and the general public about the impending enforcement exercise, set to start on Monday, June 15, 2026.

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The statement clarified that all private schools operating without registration and approval from the Ministry of Education, as well as those operating below the required standards, will be shut down in accordance with the Private Schools Law and other extant regulations of the state.

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The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwaogor, has advised approved private schools with outstanding annual renewal fees to settle their arrears immediately, emphasizing that only schools with valid approval certificates and up-to-date payment records will be permitted to operate.

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Nwaogor directed proprietors seeking clarification on the exercise to contact the relevant authorities within the ministry, and reaffirmed the commitment of the State Quality Assurance Services (SEQAS) to maintaining educational standards, ensuring compliance with regulations, and safeguarding the welfare and future of children in the state.