The Bauchi State Government has announced plans to establish a mobile court to prosecute proprietors of unregistered private schools as part of efforts to sanitise the education sector and enforce compliance with minimum operating standards.
The move is aimed at tackling the proliferation of illegal private schools, improving the quality of education and ensuring that all learning institutions operate within the state’s regulatory framework.
Commissioner for Education, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, disclosed the plan on Thursday during an inspection tour of selected private schools in Bauchi metropolis.
He said the proposed mobile court would be established in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and the Bauchi State House of Assembly to fast-track the prosecution of erring school owners.
According to the commissioner, only 17 of the 47 private schools inspected were duly registered, while the remaining 30 were operating illegally.
He warned that proprietors of unregistered schools would face prosecution and possible closure of their institutions, stressing that the government would not tolerate the operation of schools that fail to meet the state’s minimum standards.
Abdulkadir, however, assured operators of registered private schools of the government’s continued support, noting that collaboration with compliant institutions would help improve learning outcomes and raise educational standards across the state.
He commended Sunshine International Schools and Dolphin Maria College for complying with the required standards and urged other school proprietors to regularise their registration without delay.
The proprietors of the compliant schools welcomed the inspection exercise, describing it as a positive step toward improving accountability and quality assurance in the private education sector.
They also pledged their continued cooperation with the Ministry of Education.
The inspection team included the Permanent Secretary and other senior officials of the Ministry of Education, underscoring the state government’s commitment to strengthening regulation, promoting quality education and safeguarding the interests of learners across Bauchi State.