The Cross River State Government has closed down 36 unapproved primary and secondary schools operating without registration or official approval across three local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Professor Stephen Odey, confirmed the development on Tuesday in Calabar, describing the situation as “unfortunate.” He noted that some individuals were exploiting unsuspecting parents by running illegal schools.
Odey explained that the closures were carried out by the state task force on illegal schools, inaugurated earlier this month, adding that the ministry would no longer tolerate any unauthorised or “mushroom” operations in the education sector.
“We have begun full-scale enforcement across the three educational zones in Calabar, Ikom, and Ogoja to sanitise the system and ensure that only schools meeting the required standards are allowed to operate,” he stated.
According to the ministry’s report, 16 schools in Calabar, 10 in Ikom, and 10 in Ogoja were affected, all found to be operating without government approval.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to maintaining educational standards, Odey emphasised that only duly registered and accredited schools would be permitted to operate.
He also urged parents and guardians to verify the approval status of schools before enrolling their children, warning that the enforcement exercise would be extended to all 18 local government areas in the state.
“This exercise will continue until every illegal school is either regularised or shut down. We are determined to protect the integrity of education in Cross River State,” Odey added.
