Rivers State Government has cautioned private schools operating in the state to obey an earlier outline of school activities or face severe sanction.
The government warned that any school that ends the session on August 20, would be sanctioned.
The state government had last year released an outline which stipulated that schools would embark on the 3rd term vacation in September, following the delays on the academic calendar occasioned by the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic.
But, it was gathered that some private schools in the state have concluded the academic session, and would close schools on August 20 as against the government’s plan.
A statement in Port Harcourt by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sir Chidi Adiele, said the government would sanction any private school that violates the timetable, noting that all schools in the state must comply with the September 10 closing date.
Adiele said, “It has come to the attention of the Rivers State Ministry of Education that some private schools in the state are planning to vacate for the 3rd term 2020/2021 academic session on August 20 in flagrant disobedience of the state government’s approved school calendar.
“In the released calendar approved by His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike in August, 2020, schools are to vacate for the third term 2020/2021 academic session on September 10, 2021. Thus, schools are to vacate on the approved date.
“For the avoidance of doubt, any private school that vacates before the approved closing date shall face appropriate sanctions and fines payable directly to the state government through the ICT Department.
“By this notice, private schools are informed to adhere strictly to this directive. Officials of the state Ministry of Education shall be deployed to seal up schools that vacate before the approved closing date.”
