For failing to comply with the directive given by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to upgrade their facilities and infrastructure in line with the standards set by the FC T Education Secretariat, about 124 private schools have been pencilled down for closure.

FCT Minister, Senator Adamu Aliero, who stated this yesterday, said he is left with no other option than to close down the affected schools, for Abuja to maintain its status as a model in all spheres of human endeavours.

The minister disclosed this during the award of certificates of accreditation to 197 private and public schools in Abuja.

He said as far as the territory's administration is concerned, no proprietor or school is above the law, adding that those proprietors, who have undermined the demands for schools accreditation, will have their institutions closed down.

The minister vowed that the exercise would not mind whether the institutions are locally or internationally funded, stressing that schools operating illegally and those in shanties or uncompleted buildings that pose threats to the future of children and the nation's development, will be shut.

"To ensure standards are not compromised, the administration has set up four committees to study the challenges facing education," he added.


The minister said the committees are for the closure of sub-standard schools; regulation of school fees; grading and rating of schools; review of standard land size for establishment of schools and the renovation of schools in the territory.

Responding to the problem of multiple charges by schools' proprietors, Aliero assured that the committee in charge of the aspect will consider how best to avoid multiple taxes of schools by the FCT Administration and the area councils.

Senator Aliero charged the Education Secretariat to fashion out ways of tackling the menace caused by miracle examination centres.

Also speaking, the FCT Education Secretary, Mr Hussaini Halilu-Pai, said the provision of full accreditation to 197 schools and partial accreditation to 184 does not make the latter inferior schools to the former.