By Boluwaji Obahopo

KOGI State government said its has begun the process of cracking down on all illegal and ill-equipped schools operating across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Commissioner for Education, Mr Sunday Tolorunleke, who disclosed this at a fund raising event organised by Saint Anthony’s Primary school in Lokoja, said there were substandard schools in the state.

He said, “Education sector is social service driven as against profit making venture. Any school operating in violation of statutory requirements as stipulated by the government would be closed down.”

Tolorunleke further assured that as soon as the state government was through with the current cleaning up exercise of its workforce, teachers in the state would be accorded their rightful place which has been elusive for decades. He expressed optimism that the education sector would soon observe a new lease of life, reiterated the commitment of the government to digitalise learning through provision of 40 ICT centres across the state.

“Governor Yahaya Bello is passionate about learning and ready to revamp education system in the state. In his New Direction blueprint, it is categorically spelt out that students will not move more than five kilometres away from school before having access to computers and internet facilities”, he said.

Earlier in a welcome address, the head teacher of the school, Reverend Sister Agatha Chinyere Nwogbo said though a missionary school, Saint Anthony Primary school was instituted to give a wholistic education to both Christians and Muslims in Lokoja and beyond.

The school which she said was founded in 1980 has produced personalities in all fields of endeavour.

She, however, called on all well meaning Nigerians to assist the school so as to have  befitting structures that conform with the modern day requirements.