By Magnus Emuji
ASABA/Nigeria: Ahead of the 2026 Cognitive Placement Examinations for Primary Six pupils in Delta State, the Commissioner for Primary Education, Rose Ezewu, JP, has cautioned Chief Inspectors of Education (CIEs) and head teachers across the 25 local government areas to strictly adhere to approved registration guidelines and desist from the illegal collection of fees.
Ezewu issued the warning in Asaba during her maiden meeting with Chief Inspectors of Education since assuming office, stressing that any deviation from approved procedures would not be tolerated by the ministry.
She also directed the CIEs to prevail on operators of unapproved nursery and primary schools across the state to visit the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for the collection of feasibility and name-search forms, warning that failure to comply would attract severe sanctions, including the closure of such schools.
According to the commissioner, the meeting was convened to formally familiarise herself with the Chief Inspectors of Education in her new capacity, noting that she had previously worked closely with them while serving as Commissioner for Secondary Education.
Reminding the CIEs that they are representatives and ambassadors of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Ezewu disclosed plans to embark on a familiarisation tour of the offices of Education Secretaries in the various local government areas.
She urged the inspectors to sustain an open-door policy, carry their staff along in decision-making, and redouble their commitment towards achieving the ministry’s set goals for primary education in the state.
The commissioner further requested the CIEs to submit a comprehensive list of unapproved schools, including the names and contact details of their operators, as well as the phone numbers of head teachers of all public primary schools across Delta State.
In her remarks, the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Patricia Iniovosa-Okakwu, encouraged the CIEs to make constructive contributions towards advancing primary education. She reminded them of their previous working relationship with Ezewu and called for sustained cooperation and support.
Also speaking, the Director of Examinations, Clementina Ojumah, described the meeting as a valuable platform for interaction, noting that it provided the commissioner with the opportunity to engage directly with the CIEs and gain insights into their operational challenges.
Ojumah explained that the interactive session was deliberately designed to enable the CIEs to highlight issues affecting their duties, with a view to finding practical solutions that would strengthen the primary education system.
In their contributions, the Chief Inspector of Education for Udu, Mr. Ochuko Omosomwofa, and his Ethiope East counterpart, Mr. Joseph Eghwujovwo, commended the commissioner for convening the meeting, describing it as timely and progressive.
Omosomwofa assured the commissioner of the inspectors’ full compliance with the registration guidelines, adding that they would engage head teachers in their respective local government areas to enlighten them on the importance of avoiding the collection of fees beyond approved rates.
Eghwujovwo disclosed that several schools previously operating illegally in Ethiope East had since been approved following earlier engagements, and appealed to the ministry to expedite the processing of licences to ensure timely issuance.
On his part, the Director of Inspectorate, Mr. Kelly Kentoa, clarified that for approved schools, receipts and evidence of payment would serve as provisional licences pending the issuance of formal licence certificates by the ministry.
