The Enugu State Ministry of Education has accused some unlicensed and illegally-run private schools in the state of peddling falsehood against the Ministry in an attempt to blackmail and stampede their way out of the ongoing reforms and sanitization of the education sector.

The Ministry said that contrary to the fake news that the government had issued a demand notice of N5 million, new and existing private schools in the state were required to either register for provisional approval or have their licenses renewed with between ₦100,000 to ₦300,000 depending on which category the schools fall.

The State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu while reacting to news on the social media alleging that the government was charging private institutions ₦5 million, urging members of the public to disregard the publication as fake.

Prof Mbah explained that the extant laws empowered the Ministry of Education to maintain minimum standards of education for both public and private schools, stressing that the Ministry is further empowered to streamline and enhance the effective administration, monitoring, and supervision of private schools.

He noted that, fearing the consequences of the illegal operation of unlicensed private schools, which attract imprisonment of up to 10 years and possible closure of the schools, the defaulters resorted to smear campaign against the government.

Prof. Mbah, however, said that government was undeterred, as His Excellency, Barr. Dr. Peter N. Mbah, the Executive Governor of the State's Administration would not fold its arms and watch the future of Enugu children destroyed by illegal and unscrupulous schools and proprietors.

He further noted that the Ministry held repeated engagements with stakeholders in the education space across the state during the revision of the 2024 Enugu State Schools Licensing Fees Regulation.

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Teachings

The Enugu State Scholarship Board is a government agency in Nigeria that plays a significant role in facilitating access to education for deserving students in the state. Established in 2009 under the Sullivan administration the primary mission is to identify, support, and reward academically talented and financially disadvantaged students by providing scholarships and other forms of financial aid. The board is committed to ensuring that education remains accessible to all residents of Enugu State, irrespective of their financial circumstances.

The State Scholarship has been repositioned to serve as a one-stop shop for Enugu students on both local and international scholarships for undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional studies, as well as bursaries and grants for students in need. It is a channel through which students in Enugu can access fully funded scholarship schemes available for developing countries using established eligibility criteria and application procedures. So far, the board has conducted the selection process and disbursed scholarships for over 300 Enugu Students to study in New Zealand under the fully funded New Zealand Development Scholarship programme. 

The portal is automated and applicants can create an account through which they can make and process their application. The portal has been designed to enable applicants also keep track of the status of their application. In addition, the portal offers CBT solutions that seamlessly conduct aptitude tests and exams. 

The Enugu State Scholarship Board is instrumental in promoting human capital development in the state by investing in the education of its youth. Providing financial assistance to students helps to reduce the financial burden on families and encourages academic excellence. The board's activities contribute to improving the overall educational landscape in Enugu State and support the state government's commitment to building a well-educated and skilled workforce for the future.