In Anambra state, a 30-year-old teacher was detained after reportedly beating an 8-year-old student into a coma.
The Anambra state government has permanently closed Landmark School Mgbakwu in the Awka North Local Government Area.
Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the commissioner for Education, revealed this to reporters in her office on Monday.
She had called the proprietor of the school and the teacher involved, Faith Nwonye, to explain the situation that resulted in the brutalization of the primary two students.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, Chuma-Udeh said that the school’s closure was not only based on the terrible occurrence, but also because it was illegal.
She expressed sadness over the development, lamenting that the chances of the victim’s survival currently in admission to the hospital were 20 percent, according to the medical doctor.
Describing as criminals running illegal schools in the state as well as beating a child, the Commissioner warned that perpetrators were doing so at their peril.
She said: “We received this unfortunate incident from an illegal school in Mgbakwu that a child was beaten to a coma over the weekend.
“On behalf of the State Government, we invited the proprietress of the illegal school as well as the teacher who purportedly beat the child.
“We’ve handed the matter to the police for further investigations, as we await Mr Governor’s directives.
“Meanwhile, the school is closed down indefinitely because it’s not supposed to exist in the first instance.
“Any parent who is enrolling his/her child in an illegal school is doing so at his/her own peril.
“To the proprietors of private schools, anyone running an unapproved school in Anambra is a criminal. It’s a criminal offence to run an illegal school in the state.
“Whether the school is legal or not, it’s criminal to beat a child. According to the doctor, the chances of survival of the child is 20%.
“As soon as the police are done, the teacher will face other institutions against child rights. She’s going to have the full wrath of the law brought upon her over her actions.
“Anambra state abhors violence to children, women, and any other person. It’s not part of this administration and Mr. Governor is against such.” Chuma-Udeh said.
