Cross River says it has shut at least 58 unapproved schools

The Cross River government says it has closed at least 58 schools operating without approval in four local government areas as it continues an enforcement exercise across the state.

The closures cover Calabar South, Calabar Municipality, Odukpani and Yakurr. School proprietors have been asked to obtain the required approval before operating.

Education Commissioner Stephen Odey announced the figure in Calabar on Saturday. He said the ministry’s Department of Quality Assurance had intensified checks on schools that lacked Approval to Operate, the state’s authorisation for running a school.

Odey said the exercise was intended to ensure schools met the minimum requirements for establishing and managing educational institutions. He said the government wanted learners to study in safe, properly regulated environments and would not compromise the required standards.

The commissioner said the action was not intended to target proprietors unfairly. He urged operators of unapproved schools to regularise their businesses by securing the necessary authorisation.

He warned that schools sealed by the government would face sanctions if they reopened without permission.

Odey said enforcement would continue across all 18 local government areas until the objectives of the exercise were achieved.

Sources: Vanguard, Peoples Gazette