Cross River closes 58 unapproved schools

The Cross River State Government has closed 58 unapproved schools operating in four local government areas as part of efforts to clean up the education sector and ensure compliance with set standards.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Stephen Odey, disclosed this in Calabar on Saturday, saying that the affected schools were located in Calabar South, Calabar Municipality, Odukpani and Yakurr Local Government Areas.

Odey said the ministry’s Quality Assurance Department had intensified its crackdown on schools operating without operating authorization (ATO), warning that the enforcement exercise would continue across the state.

He explained that the operation is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure that educational institutions comply with regulations guiding the establishment and management of schools.

According to the commissioner, the operation was also designed to protect pupils and students by ensuring that they receive education in safe, conducive and appropriately regulated learning environments.

Government intensifies crackdown on unapproved schools

Odey stressed that the state government will not compromise on the minimum standards required for the establishment and functioning of educational institutions.

He said the enforcement operation was not intended to witch-hunt school owners but to ensure that all operators met the prescribed requirements to run schools in the state.

The commissioner argued that enforcement was necessary to strengthen quality assurance and improve the overall standard of teaching and learning.

He urged the owners of schools operating without the necessary authorization to regularize their activities by obtaining the necessary permissions from the competent authorities.

Odey warned that any school closed by the government and later reopened without official permission will face appropriate sanctions.

Crackdown to cover all 18 LGAs

The commissioner said the enforcement operation will be carried out in the 18 local government areas of Cross River until the ongoing clean-up targets are achieved.

He added that the Government remains committed to strengthening monitoring and quality assurance in the education sector to ensure that schools operate in accordance with established regulations.

According to him, continued exercise would help protect students, promote acceptable educational standards and uphold the integrity of the state’s education system.

The Government’s warning puts pressure on owners of unapproved schools to obtain the required approval or risk enforcement measures as the inspection exercise expands across the state.