A 30-year-old teacher at Landmark School Mgbakwu, Faith Nwonye, has been arrested for allegedly beating an eight-year-old pupil into a coma.
According to The Punch, the incident happened in the Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Anambra State’s Commissioner for Education, Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, announced the permanent closure of the school on Monday.
She revealed that both the school’s proprietor and Nwonye were summoned to explain the brutal incident involving the primary two pupil.
Chuma-Udeh explained, “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.”
She added, “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.”
Chuma-Udeh expressed her dismay over the incident, noting the victim’s critical condition. “According to the doctor, the chances of survival of the child is 20%,” she stated.
She warned that anyone involved in such acts would face severe consequences. “Whether the school is legal or not, it’s criminal to beat a child. 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.”
The commissioner emphasized the state’s stance against violence, saying, “Anambra state abhors violence to children, women, and any other person. It’s not part of this administration and Mr. Governor is against such.”
