Anambra State Government on Monday, handed a 30-year-old teacher who allegedly beat an 8-year-old pupil to a coma to the Nigeria Police Force.
The incident happened last week at Landmark School Mgbakwu in Awka North Local Government Area of the state.
The 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 school’s Proprietor and the concerned teacher, Faith Nwonye had been invited on Monday, to explain what led to the brutalization of the primary two pupils.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Anambra Education Commissioner explained that the school’s closure was not only based on the ugly incident but as a result of its illegality.
Expressing sadness over the development, Chuma-Udeh noted that the medical Doctor handling the case of the child who is currently on admission, has revealed that the victim’s chances of survival is only 20 percent.
Describing running an illegal school in the state as well as beating a child, as a criminal offence, 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 an illegal school in the state.
“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%.
“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.”
