The Anambra government announced on Tuesday the immediate closure of Upcoming Star International School on Ifite Road in Awka due to suspected bullying of a seven-year-old student.
Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the state Commissioner for Education, revealed in Awka that the government has responded to a report that a pupil’s classmate allegedly broke her leg.
Ms Chuma-Udeh stated that when the school’s owner was summoned for interrogation, it was determined that the school was not licensed to operate.
“The pupil was bullied by her classmate, which caused her to break her leg, and the matter was reported to the ministry.
“The school proprietor, Mr Uchechukwu Onyeachonam, was invited for questioning and he admitted that the offence was committed in his school; it was also discovered the school was not approved by the government.
“Governor Chukwuma Soludo, however, directed that the school be sealed before 2:00 p.m. today. This is because the continued existence of such illegal schools has been causing mayhem to children in the state,” she said.
Ms Chuma-Udeh warned that owners of unapproved schools would be turned over to law enforcement for violating state laws.
She also asked parents to avoid sending their children or wards to unapproved schools.