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A 30-year-old teacher at the Landmark School Mgbakwu in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Faith Nwonye, has been arrested by the police for allegedly beaten an eight-year-old pupil into a coma.
The State's Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, made this disclosure, on Tuesday, in her office, stressing that, the school would be shut down to commence an investigation.
Chuma-Udeh cited illegality as the major reason for the closure of the school till further notice.
She expressed sadness over the incident, lamenting that the chances of the victim’s survival currently in admission to a hospital are 20 per cent, according to the medical doctor.
Describing as a crime running an illegal school in the state as well as beating a child, the commissioner warned that perpetrators were doing so at their peril.
According to her, “We received this unfortunate incident from an illegal school in Mgbakwu that a child was beaten to a 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 have 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 their child in an illegal school is doing so at their peril.
“To the proprietors of private schools, anyone running an unapproved school in Anambra is a criminal. It’s a criminal offence 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 are 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 shut down upon her over her actions.”
