By Praise Chinecherem
A 30-year old teacher has been arrested for allegedly beating an 8-year old pupil to coma in Landmark School Mgbakwu in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra state.
Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh who disclosed this to reporters in her office on Monday, also announced the permanent closure of the school.
The Commissioner had invited the school’s Proprietor and the concerned teacher, Faith Nwonye to explain what led to the brutalization of the primary two pupil.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, Chuma-Udeh explained that the school’s closure was not only based on the ugly incident but as a result of its illegality.
She expressed sadness over the development, lamenting that chances of victim’s survival currently in admission in hospital is 20 percent, according to the medical Doctor.
Describing as criminal running illegal school in the state as well as beating a child, the Commissioner warned that perpetrators were doing so at their peril.
She said: “We received this unfortunate incident from an illegal school in Mgbakwu that a child was beaten to 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 offense to run illegal school in the state.
“Whether the school is legal or not, it’s criminal to beat a child. According to the doctor, chances of survival of the child is 20 percent.
“As soon as the Police is 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.”
