Anambra closes school over bullying of seven-year-old pupil

By Olamilekan Adigun

The Anambra State Government has announced the immediate closure of Upcoming Star International School, Awka, over the alleged bullying of a seven-year-old pupil.

The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, made this known in a statement on Tuesday.

Chuma-Udeh, in the statement, said the pupil’s classmate allegedly broke her leg.

The Commissioner added that it was discovered that the school was not even approved to operate while questioning the school’s proprietor.

She said, “The pupil was bullied by her classmate, which caused her to break her leg, and the matter was reported to the ministry.

“The school proprietor, Uche Onyeachona, was invited for questioning, and he admitted that the offence was committed in his school.

“It was also discovered that the school was not approved by the state government.

“The state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, however, directed that the school be sealed before 2 pm today.

“This is because the continued existence of such illegal schools has been causing mayhem to children in the state.”

The commissioner, however, urged parents to desist from sending their children and wards to unapproved schools.

She warned that proprietors of illegal schools would be handed over to law enforcement agents for contravening the laws of the state.