Rivers state governor, Mr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Friday cancelled operational approval given to all private schools in the state and directed them to seek fresh approval.

Wike stated that the application for operational approval must be done by all schools within the next two weeks. The governor spoke yesterday at a meeting with all private school proprietors in Rivers state at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

“All the schools must apply for operational approval within the next two weeks.

“We will set up committees that will recommend approval for schools. All schools in the state must be up to the  required standard.”

The governor said his second term is committed  to improving the right standards in the education sector for the good of Rivers people.

“The governor’s office  will review all the approval of schools. All the existing  approvals by Ministry of Education have been cancelled. For this process,  there will be no room for bribery and corruption,” he said.

On the issue of revenue paid by schools, the Governor said that all levies  must be paid  through approved  designated bank accounts.

He said anyone who  demands for cash payment should be reported to security agencies via designated phone lines. He said Office of  the Secretary to the Rivers State Government will publish telephone lines  that school proprietors should contact in case they are pressured  to pay illegal levies.

Daily Trust