ABUJA , Nigeria ( VOICE OF NAIJA )-The Cross River State Government has closed 36 unapproved schools, ranging from primary to secondary institutions, found operating without registration or official authorisation across three local government areas of the state.
Confirming the development on Tuesday in Calabar, the state capital, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Stephen Odey, described the situation as unfortunate, lamenting that some individuals continue to take advantage of unsuspecting parents by running unauthorised schools.
He explained that the closures were carried out by the state task force on illegal schools, which was inaugurated earlier this month.
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Odey warned that the ministry would no longer tolerate any unauthorised or “mushroom” operations within the state’s education system.
“We have begun full-scale enforcement across the three educational zones in Calabar, Ikom, and Ogoja to sanitise the system and ensure that only schools meeting the required standards are allowed to operate,” Odey said.
According to the ministry’s report, 16 schools in Calabar, 10 in Ikom, and another 10 in Ogoja were affected, all operating without government approval.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to upholding quality education, Odey emphasised that only registered and accredited schools would be allowed to function in the state.
He also urged parents and guardians to verify the approval status of any school before enrolling their children, adding that the enforcement drive would be expanded to cover all 18 local government areas of Cross River State.
“This exercise will continue until every illegal school is either regularised or shut down. We are determined to protect the integrity of education in Cross River State,” Odey stated.