Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON) says 7,000 illegal private schools are currently operating in Plateau.

Solomon Musa, the chairman of the association in the state, described the situation as worrisome. He added that such development was bad for the growth of education in the state.

”As I speak to you, we have 7,000 illegal private schools operating in Plateau; I’m telling you this on my authority as the chairman of APSON in Plateau,” said Mr Musa on Monday in Jos. “These schools did not obtain any operational approval from the government and yet they have been operating.”

Mr Musa stressed that “this is a sad development for the education sector of the state”, pointing out that owners of the illegal schools are not members of his association.

The Plateau State government recently withdrew the operational license of all private schools in the state and called for revalidation. Mr Musa described the development as a step in the right direction.

He explained that such a move would curtail the proliferation of private schools in the state, hence ensure quality service delivery to the people.

“As an association, we are supporting the government 100 per cent because anything that has to do with education has to be done rightly.

“In every society, it is the government that regulates all educational activities,  and so should not tolerate anyone that goes against its educational policies,” he added.

Mr Musa, however, advised members of the association to key into the state government’s policy and avail themselves for the ongoing revalidation exercise.

(NAN)