Faith Nwonye, a 30-year-old teacher at Landmark School Mgbakwu in Anambra State’s Awka North Local Government Area, has been arrested for allegedly beating an eight-year-old student into a coma.
Anambra State’s Commissioner for Education, Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, informed journalists on Monday that the state government has permanently shut down the school.
Chuma-Udeh revealed that she had called the school’s proprietor and Nwonye to account for the incident that led to the severe beating of the second-grade pupil.
The commissioner clarified that the school was closed not only because of this incident but also due to its illegal operation.
She said, “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’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 offence to run an illegal school in the state.”
She expressed sadness over the situation and lamented that, according to the medical doctor, the victim’s chances of survival while currently admitted to the hospital were only 20 percent.
“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%,” she stated.
She warned that perpetrators would face consequences for their actions, emphasizing that the teacher would be held accountable.
She added, “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.”
