The Cross River State Government has extended its crackdown on unapproved schools to three local government areas, identifying 15 schools operating without the required Approval to Operate (ATO) in Calabar Municipality, Odukpani and Yakurr.
The enforcement exercise, conducted by the Department of Quality Assurance in the Ministry of Education, is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to sanitise the education sector, enforce compliance with established regulations and ensure acceptable standards for teaching and learning.
The Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey, Esq., said the exercise was not intended to witch-hunt school proprietors but to ensure that every school operating in the State meets the prescribed requirements for establishing and managing educational institutions.
Odey stressed that the government remained committed to promoting quality education by ensuring that learners have access to safe, conducive and suitable environments that support effective teaching and learning.
He noted that the future of children remained paramount to the State Government, adding that no school should be allowed to operate outside the regulatory framework designed to protect learners and uphold educational standards.
The Commissioner warned that the enforcement exercise would continue across all 18 local government areas of the State until the objectives of the ongoing education sector clean-up were achieved.
In Calabar Municipality, eight schools were identified for operating without the required approval. They are Prestige International Nursery/Primary and Secondary School, M/M Highway; God’s Vision Standard School, No. 7 Okanmba, Bacoco; Falcons Academy Nursery/Primary School, Slaughter, Nassarawa; and Falcons Academy Secondary School, Slaughter, Nassarawa.
Others are Bridgeway Group of Schools, Town Hall, Obot Okho, Bacoco; Davdy Royal Schools, 16 School Road, One Man Country; Help of Christian Schools, Road 2, after Save Side Hotel, One Man Country; and Flaglozy Secondary Schools, Ediba.
In Odukpani Local Government Area, the affected schools are Christ Infant Academy, Odukpani Central; Presbyterian Nursery/Primary School, Odukpani Central; and Apostolic Church Kings Nursery/Primary School, Esin Ufut, Adiabo.
Four schools were identified in Yakurr Local Government Area: God’s First School Academy International School, Nko; Presbyterian Model Secondary School, Nko; New Spring International School, Nkpani; and Agoi Ibami Heritage School, Yakurr.
The Ministry of Education reiterated its commitment to enforcing compliance with school registration and operational requirements, assuring that quality assurance measures would continue across the State to protect learners and promote acceptable educational standards.
By Patricia Ogbeche
