October 01, (THEWILL) — The Akwa Ibom State Government has intensified its crackdown on illegal private schools, sealing several unlicenced institutions across the state and ordering the arrest of defaulting proprietors who attempted to defy the directive. Angered by the development, Prof. Essien ordered the arrest and detention of the offenders, who are now awaiting prosecution. “During the ministry’s regular monitoring exercise, it was observed that while several operators of unauthorised private schools had obeyed the directive, a few chose to defy the order and continued with academic activities”, he said. “The Ministry of Education reiterates its stance on the closure of unauthorised and rogue schools. This exercise is aimed at standardising educational delivery across the state, ensuring compliance with approved standards, and ridding our educational system of substandard institutions that compromise the future of children in Akwa Ibom State”, Prof. Essien stressed.