The Enugu State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah has explained that private schools in the state were to pay between N100,000 and N300,000 as education tax, debunking reports of a N5 million mandatory payment.
Mbah made the clarification in a statement issued on Thursday, September 5, 2024.
He said: “New and existing private schools in the state are required to either register for provisional approval or have their licences renewed.
“This is between ₦100,000 and ₦300,000, depending on the category the schools falls in. The approved schedule of fees was released to the public earlier in June”.
He urged the public to disregard the publication that the Governor Peter Mbah-led administration had imposed N1 million to N5m mandatory payment on private schools in the state as educational taxes.
“Extant laws empowers the ministry of education of to maintain minimum standards of education for both public and private schools.
“The ministry is also empowered to streamline and enhance the effective administration, monitoring, and supervision of private schools”, he said.
Mbah further noted that operators of unlicensed private schools in the state resorted to a smear campaign against the government, fearing the consequences of imprisonment of up to 10 years and possible closure of the schools.
“The government is undeterred, as Governor Mbah will not fold his arms and watch the future of Enugu children destroyed by illegal and unscrupulous schools and proprietors,” he said.
He added that the ministry held repeated engagements with stakeholders in the education space across the state during the revision of the 2024 Enugu State Schools Licensing Fees Regulation, with the promise not to back down on its reforms.
