The Cross River State Ministry of Education has begun shutting down illegal schools that fail to comply with approved ministry regulations.
As part of this enforcement, the Commissioner for Education, Senator Stephen Odey, has sealed two such schools in Calabar South Local Government Area. The affected schools are God’s Connection High School, located on Nelson Mandela Street by Bassey Duke, and Dayspring Collegiate Stars, located at 25/28 Egerton Street, Calabar.
During the operation, the Commissioner was accompanied by the Director of Quality Assurance, the Director of Safe Schools, the Director of Special Duties, the Education Secretary, and the Local Education Authority. He emphasized that the crackdown would continue across the state.
“This exercise has come to stay. I will conduct a comprehensive tour of the state to uncover all unapproved schools. Operators of schools without approval are advised to obtain their Approval to Operate (ATO) from the ministry promptly, as no exceptions will be made,” he stated.
Addressing students before sealing the schools, the Commissioner stressed that establishing a school is a serious responsibility that requires compliance with operational guidelines.
“The children are being held in unsanitary, cramped conditions, which must be stopped as it poses health risks,” he warned.
To maintain order, he announced that mobile police personnel would be deployed to the affected schools and urged parents to keep their children away from the premises.
Meanwhile, principals and proprietors of the closed schools have been directed to visit the Ministry of Education for guidelines on obtaining the necessary approvals.
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