Cross River Tightens Rules for Private, Mission Schools
By Ben GBOR
The Cross River State Government has tightened regulatory requirements for private and mission schools ahead of the 2026/2027 academic session, warning proprietors that breaches of approved education standards will attract sanctions.
The Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey, announced the measures during a pre-resumption meeting with members of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and representatives of mission schools in the state.
Odey stressed that private ownership did not exempt schools from government regulation, insisting that all private and mission schools must operate within the standards and guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Education.
“Private schools, though privately owned, remain subject to the regulation of the Ministry of Education,” he said.
The Commissioner directed all private and mission schools to resume on Monday, September 14, 2026, and adhere strictly to the approved academic calendar, warning proprietors against changing official resumption and closing dates without approval.
He also reaffirmed 2:00 p.m. as the approved closing time for all nursery, primary and secondary schools in the state, warning that schools that violate the directive would face sanctions, including withdrawal of approval and possible closure.
As part of the measures, Odey urged proprietors to sensitise parents against late registration, moderate school fees and comply with the “no lesson, no lesson fee” policy, stressing that schools must conduct their activities within established regulations.
On student documentation, the Commissioner directed schools to ensure prompt registration and full compliance with the Student Identification Number (SIN) policy.
He said the policy would strengthen student documentation, improve accountability and educational planning, and help curb fraudulent enrolment.
Odey also warned schools against using unapproved textbooks, disclosing that the Ministry was reviewing textbooks to ensure alignment with the revised curriculum.
He said the Ministry had obtained approved revised curricula from the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), urging private and mission schools to obtain and implement them to promote uniformity with public schools.
The Commissioner further charged proprietors to train and retrain their teachers, stressing that competent and properly trained teachers were essential to improving teaching and learning outcomes.
“Competent and well-trained teachers are essential to improving teaching and learning outcomes,” Odey said.
He assured the stakeholders that the Ministry would continue to engage and support private and mission schools, even as it intensified monitoring and enforcement to ensure compliance and raise education standards across the state.
Responding, the Chairman of NAPPS, Pastor Abraham Osok, commended Odey for his leadership and reform initiatives, saying his clear communication and approach had made the measures easier for stakeholders to understand and embrace.
Similarly, the Education Executive Secretary of the Catholic Schools Board, Ogoja Diocese, Rev. Fr. Justin Udie, described Odey as “the right person to steer the Ministry at a time of significant reforms” and reaffirmed the commitment of mission schools to supporting the government’s efforts to improve education outcomes.
The stakeholders pledged continued cooperation with the Ministry of Education, expressing confidence that the strengthened compliance measures would promote accountability, raise standards and improve the quality of education across Cross River State.
