CALABAR — The Cross River State Government has shut down 20 unapproved private primary and secondary schools operating across four local government areas as part of its ongoing statewide crackdown on substandard educational institutions.
The enforcement exercise, executed by the Department of Quality Assurance under the State Ministry of Education, affected defaulting institutions in Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Odukpani, and Akamkpa Local Government Areas.
Announcing the closures in Calabar, Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Professor Stephen Odey, stated that the exercise was necessary to protect learners from substandard academic environments, enforce compliance with minimum educational infrastructure, and eliminate illegal operators in the state’s basic education sector.
According to official operational records released by the state government, Odukpani Local Government Area recorded the highest number of closures with seven non-compliant institutions sealed off, while affected establishments in Calabar Municipality included Impact Group of Schools, Gospel Beacon Academy, and Divvy Bliss Schools.
Professor Odey issued a stern warning to proprietors of the affected institutions against unauthorized reopening without securing official Approval to Operate (ATO) from the state ministry, cautioning that violators will face immediate prosecution under state education laws as enforcement officers expand monitoring teams across all 18 local government areas.
