Faith Nwonye, a 30-year-old teacher at Landmark School in Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been apprehended for allegedly assaulting an eight-year-old student to the point of unconsciousness.
The Commissioner for Education, Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, addressed the media on Monday, announcing the permanent closure of the school by the state government.
Chuma-Udeh further revealed that she had summoned the school’s owner and Nwonye to provide an explanation regarding the incident that resulted in the severe mistreatment of the primary two pupil.
The commissioner clarified that the closure of the school was not solely due to the incident, but also because the school was operating illegally. She stated, “We received news of this unfortunate incident from an unauthorized school in Mgbakwu, where a child was mercilessly beaten into a coma over the weekend.
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On behalf of the State Government, we have summoned the proprietress of the illegal school and the teacher responsible for the assault.
We have handed the matter over to the police for further investigation, awaiting the directives of the Governor. Meanwhile, the school has been shut down indefinitely as it should not have existed in the first place.”
Expressing her deep sorrow over the situation, the commissioner lamented that the victim, who is currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital, has a mere 20% chance of survival according to the attending physician.
She emphasized that regardless of the school’s legal status, it is a criminal act to harm a child. She stated, “Whether the school is legal or not, it is absolutely unacceptable to subject a child to such violence.
The doctor has informed us that the child’s chances of survival are only 20%.” The commissioner assured that the teacher responsible will face legal consequences for her actions, as the police investigation concludes.
She affirmed that Anambra State vehemently condemns violence against children, women, and any individual, and that the governor is firmly against such acts.
