Enugu Ministry of Education Dismisses Alleged ₦5M Levy on Private Schools as Fake News

 Enugu Ministry of Education Dismisses Alleged ₦5M Levy on Private Schools as Fake News

The Enugu State Ministry of Education has refuted claims circulating on social media that it imposed a ₦5 million levy on private schools in the state. The Ministry condemned the report as fake news, attributing it to unlicensed and illegally-operated private schools attempting to undermine ongoing reforms in the state’s education sector.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, debunked the allegations, clarifying that new and existing private schools are only required to pay between ₦100,000 and ₦300,000 for either registration or renewal of their licenses, depending on the category of the institution. He emphasized that this official fee structure had been made public since June 2024.

Reacting to the allegations, Prof. Mbah urged the public to disregard the fake news circulating online, stressing that the government had no plans to charge private schools ₦5 million each. He stated that the false claims were part of a deliberate smear campaign orchestrated by some illegal school operators in a bid to evade compliance with the ongoing reforms.

He further explained that the Ministry is legally empowered to enforce minimum educational standards across all schools both public and private in the state. This mandate includes the authority to streamline, monitor, and ensure proper supervision of private schools to enhance the quality of education.

Prof. Mbah highlighted that the operators of these illegal private schools, fearing the consequences of their non-compliance which includes possible closure and imprisonment for up to 10 years had resorted to spreading falsehoods to blackmail the government.

However, the Commissioner maintained that the administration of Governor Peter Mbah would not be intimidated. He assured that the state government remains resolute in its efforts to safeguard the future of Enugu’s children by cracking down on unlicensed schools and unscrupulous proprietors who attempt to subvert the educational system.

Prof. Mbah also noted that the Ministry had held numerous consultative meetings with key stakeholders in the education sector across the state during the revision of the 2024 Enugu State Schools Licensing Fees Regulation. This move, he said, was part of the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and fairness in the licensing process.