The FCT Minister, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, on Tuesday said the administration would rid the territory of sub-standard schools.

Mohammed, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the FCT, Mr Anthony Ozodinobi, disclosed this at the 4th ministerial meeting with proprietors of private schools in the FCT.

He said the administration was worried over numerous negative reports on the conduct of many private schools in the city.

"Consequently, the clamp down on sub-standard and illegal schools will be a continuous process," he said.

He said that apart from operating illegally, some of the schools engaged the services of unqualified teachers, neglecting the consequences of the action.

"Schools operating within the FCT, whether private or public, must adhere to the requirements of the National Policy on Education and guidelines on the establishment and operation of educational institutions.

"On no account, therefore, shall we allow minimum standard to be compromised.

"Through the accreditation, erring proprietors will be brought to book," he added.

Mohammed urged proprietors of the schools operating illegally under different names and locations to desist from such act or face strict penalty.

He also decried the habit of premature graduation of pupils from primary schools to junior secondary schools by some private school proprietors.

"Some of these are perpetrated with the collaboration of public schools head teachers.

"The provision of the quality of education states that primary education is for six years and not five or four years, this is clear and unambiguous," he said.

The minister said the administration had beamed its searchlight on private and public schools to fish out faulty schools for sanctions.

He also pointed out that the use of senior class curriculum and books for junior class was harmful to a child's mental development and therefore, not acceptable.

The FCTA Secretary for Education, Malam Kabir Usman, said the education sector had been confronted with challenges in the management of private schools.

NAN reports that out of the 1,045 private schools in the FCT, only 85 have received certificates of accreditation.

NAN