by The Anambra State Government has ordered the immediate closure of Upcoming Star International School, Awka, following an incident involving the alleged bullying of a seven-year-old pupil.
The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, announced the decision in a statement on Tuesday, revealing that the action was prompted by a report that the pupil’s leg was broken by a classmate.
Upon summoning the school’s proprietor, Uche Onyeachona, for questioning, it was uncovered that the school was operating without official approval.
Chuma-Udeh explained, “The pupil was bullied by a classmate, resulting in a broken leg, which was reported to the ministry. The school proprietor admitted that the incident occurred in his school, and further investigation revealed that the school was not approved by the state government.”
Following this discovery, the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, ordered the immediate sealing of the school, emphasizing that unapproved schools pose significant risks to children’s safety and well-being.
The commissioner urged parents to refrain from enrolling their children in unapproved institutions and warned that proprietors of illegal schools would face legal consequences for violating state laws.
