The Cross River State Government has taken action against unauthorized education providers by shutting down 36 unapproved schools operating illegally across three local government areas (LGAs) of the state.
The affected institutions, which include both primary and secondary schools, were found to be running without the necessary registration or official approval from the state, according to a statement published on the Ministry of Education’s official website.
Confirming the development on Tuesday, October 21, Commissioner for Education, Professor Stephen Odey, described the situation as “unfortunate,” pointing out that some individuals were exploiting unsuspecting parents by running unauthorized schools.
The closures were carried out by the State Task Force on Illegal Schools, which was inaugurated earlier this month. Odey warned that the ministry will no longer tolerate any unauthorized or “mushroom” operations in the state’s education sector.
He explained that the enforcement has begun across the state’s three educational zones—Calabar, Ikom, and Ogoja—to “sanitize the system and ensure that only schools meeting the required standards are allowed to operate.”
The Ministry’s publication specified the locations of the shut schools: 16 were located in Calabar, 10 in Ikom, and another 10 in Ogoja.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to quality education, Professor Odey stressed that only duly registered and accredited schools will be permitted to function. He advised parents and guardians to verify the approval status of schools before enrolling their children, warning that the enforcement exercise will be extended to all 18 local government areas in the state.
Odey concluded by stating the government’s determination: “This exercise will continue until every illegal school is either regularized or shut down. We are determined to protect the integrity of education in Cross River State.”