Cross River shuts 36 illegal schools
The Cross River State Government has sealed off 36 illegal private schools operating without approval across the state as part of its crackdown on substandard educational institutions.
The schools were shut down by officials of the Ministry of Education following a week-long inspection exercise that covered Calabar Municipality, Ogoja, Ikom, and Obudu Local Government Areas.
Commissioner leads enforcement
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Stephen Odey, who led the monitoring team, said the action became necessary after several warnings and directives to comply with state regulations were ignored.
“We discovered that these schools were operating without registration, qualified teachers, or conducive learning environments. Some were using makeshift structures that endangered pupils’ safety,” Odey stated.
He noted that the closures were part of Governor Bassey Otu’s ongoing efforts to reform the education sector and restore quality and credibility to learning in the state.
Schools flouting standards
According to Odey, the affected schools had been operating illegally for years, admitting students and issuing certificates without authorization from the State Ministry of Education.
“We cannot continue to allow schools that compromise standards to operate. Any institution that wants to function must be duly registered and meet the state’s minimum requirements,” he warned.
The commissioner also revealed that the ministry would soon publish the list of approved and accredited schools on its official website to help parents make informed decisions.
Warning to parents and proprietors
Odey urged parents to enroll their children only in approved schools, stressing that attendance at unaccredited institutions could jeopardize students’ future prospects, including eligibility for public examinations such as WAEC and NECO.
“We are not out to witch-hunt anyone. Our goal is to sanitize the education system. Proprietors of illegal schools are advised to regularize their operations or face permanent closure,” he said.
Background
The Cross River State Government has been conducting a statewide verification of schools since early 2025 to weed out unregistered institutions and improve the quality of education delivery.
Last month, the ministry trained over 500 teachers and education inspectors to strengthen monitoring, while plans are underway to upgrade infrastructure in public schools across the three senatorial districts.
What’s next
Odey confirmed that the ministry would continue enforcement exercises in other parts of the state in the coming weeks and warned that criminal charges could be filed against proprietors who reopen sealed schools without authorization.
“This reform will continue until every school in Cross River meets the approved standards,” he added.
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