Rivers State Government has said it is in a move to ensure thatonly standard schools operate in the state and therefore, has directed all private schools in the state to apply for 2019 operational approval.
Nyesom Wike, the state governor stated on Friday that the application for operational approval must be done by all schools within the next two weeks.
He also said that the State Government will set up committees that will recommend the approval of schools.
In a major policy shift, the approval will be reviewed by the governor’s office and not the state’s ministry of education.
He also added that all approvals done by the ministry has been cancelled.
On the issue of revenue paid by schools, Wike said that all levies must be paid through approved designated bank accounts, stressing that anyone who demands for cash payment should be reported to security agencies via designated phone lines.
He said that the Office of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government will publish the telephone lines that school Proprietors should contact in case they are pressured to pay illegal levies.