The Cross River State Government has initiated a crackdown on unapproved schools, shutting down 10 institutions in a bid to ensure compliance with approved standards across the state. This enforcement exercise, carried out by the State Ministry of Education through its Quality Assurance Department, targets schools operating without the required Approval to Operate. The move aims to safeguard the future of pupils and students by ensuring that schools meet the required standards for effective teaching and learning.
The Commissioner for Education in Cross River State, Prof. Stephen Odey, disclosed the development to newsmen, emphasizing the importance of the exercise in protecting the quality, safety, and integrity of education. He urged proprietors operating without approval to regularise their institutions, warning that any school sealed by the Ministry and reopened without authorisation would face appropriate sanctions. The Commissioner stressed that the government remained committed to ensuring that educational institutions operate within the approved regulatory framework.
According to Prof. Odey, the enforcement exercise will continue across all 18 local government areas of the state. He revealed that as of October 2, 2026, 10 schools had been shut down during the latest enforcement exercise, with nine located in Calabar-South and one in Odukpani Local Government Area. The affected schools in Calabar-South include Aunty Offiong’s Talent Nursery/Primary School, Dreams and Destiny Manifestation Nursery/Primary School, and Abba’s Delight Kids Academy, among others.
The Commissioner reiterated the ministry’s commitment to protecting the quality, safety, and integrity of education across Cross River State. He emphasized that compliance with approved standards was essential to providing pupils and students with a safe and conducive environment for learning. The ministry’s efforts aim to ensure that schools meet the required standards for effective teaching and learning, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of education in the state.
The enforcement exercise is part of the state government's efforts to sanitise the education sector and ensure that schools operate within the approved regulatory framework. By shutting down unapproved schools, the government aims to prevent the proliferation of substandard educational institutions that may compromise the quality of education. The exercise also underscores the government's commitment to providing a safe and conducive learning environment for pupils and students.
Prof. Odey’s warning to proprietors operating without approval underscores the government’s determination to enforce compliance with approved standards. The Commissioner’s statement also highlights the consequences of non-compliance, including sanctions against schools that reopen without authorisation. By taking a proactive approach, the government aims to ensure that educational institutions in Cross River State meet the required standards for effective teaching and learning.
The Cross River State Government’s efforts to sanitise the education sector are expected to have a positive impact on the quality of education in the state. By ensuring that schools operate within the approved regulatory framework, the government aims to enhance the overall quality of education and provide pupils and students with a safe and conducive learning environment. The enforcement exercise will continue across the state, with the government committed to protecting the quality, safety, and integrity of education.
Key points
- The Cross River State Government has shut down 10 unapproved schools in a bid to ensure compliance with approved standards across the state.
- The enforcement exercise will continue across all 18 local government areas of the state.
- The government remains committed to ensuring that educational institutions operate within the approved regulatory framework.
