Faith Nwonye, a 30-year-old educator at Landmark School Mgbakwu in Anambra State's Awka North Local Government Area, was apprehended for allegedly causing severe harm to an eight-year-old student, resulting in a coma.
Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, Anambra State's Commissioner for Education, announced to reporters that the state government has permanently shuttered the school.
Chuma-Udeh stated that she summoned the school's owner and Nwonye to explain the incident that led to the severe beating of the second-grade student.
The commissioner clarified that the closure of the school was not solely due to this incident but also because of its unauthorized operation.
She said, “We received this unfortunate incident from an illegal school in Mgbakwu that a child was beaten to a coma over the weekend. On behalf of the State Government, we invited the proprietress of the illegal school as well as the teacher who purportedly beat the child.
“We’ve handed the matter to the police for further investigations, as we await Mr Governor’s directives. Meanwhile, the school is closed down indefinitely because it’s not supposed to exist in the first instance. Any parent who is enrolling his/her child in an illegal school is doing so at his/her own peril.
“To the proprietors of private schools, anyone running an unapproved school in Anambra is a criminal. It’s a criminal offence to run an illegal school in the state.”
She conveyed her sorrow regarding the situation and mourned the fact that, as per the medical doctor, the victim's current chances of survival while hospitalized were only 20 percent.
“Whether the school is legal or not, it’s criminal to beat a child. According to the doctor, the chances of survival of the child is 20%,” she stated.
She cautioned that those responsible would face repercussions for their actions, stressing that the teacher would be held responsible.
She added, “As soon as the police are done, the teacher will face other institutions against child rights. She’s going to have the full wrath of the law brought upon her over her actions.
“Anambra state abhors violence to children, women, and any other person. It’s not part of this administration and Mr. Governor is against such.”
Comments