By Douglas Princemola
The Imo State Government recently directed all primary and secondary schools to stop elaborate graduation ceremonies and the frequent change of textbooks. This decision is a welcome move aimed at easing the financial pressure on parents and restoring sanity to the education sector.
But beyond this policy, there is a pressing need for stricter regulation of private schools across the state. Many of these schools are operating without the most basic facilities required for learning. Some lack playgrounds, gardens, or farms for practical engagement, while others are shockingly housed in residential buildings sharing apartments with tenants, with classrooms upstairs and families living below. Such conditions compromise both safety and quality of education.
We therefore call on Governor Hope Uzodinma to take decisive action. Private schools without proper facilities or valid operational licenses must be investigated, sanctioned, or shut down. Children deserve to learn in an environment that nurtures their growth, not one that endangers it.
Equally troubling is the exploitation of parents through high school fees, unnecessary levies, and the constant demand for new textbooks. These practices have forced many families into financial distress, turning education into a burden instead of the pathway to opportunity that it should be.
Governor Uzodinma must act now by enforcing standards, regulating school fees, and holding private school operators accountable. Education in Imo State cannot be left in the hands of quacks. It must remain a tool for empowerment, not impoverishment.
