The Anambra state government has ordered for the immediate closure of Blessed Wisdom Model School at Ide Drive, Federal Housing Estate, Onitsha, over the abuse of a two-year-old pupil.
Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the state commissioner for education, had made the announcement on Saturday, June 15 after a report was made that a two-year-old pupil, Ifechukwu Egbuninwe, had sustained grievous bodily harm after he’d been flogged.
Mrs Chuma-Udeh had additionally revealed that the victim had broken her arm and sustained injuries on her tongue. These claims are still to be verified, however.
It had also been said that the proprietress of the school failed to reach out to the parents of the pupil, to inform them of her injuries. First aid treatment had also not been administered.
The commissioner had criticised the attitude of the management of Blessed Wisdom Model School to human life, adding that the proprietress had not honoured her invitation.
In her words:
“Every child belongs to the state, we cannot condone any neglect to human life. This is why, on Friday, July 14, we invited the proprietress to come and explain what happened. The ‘abused’ child, her parents and their lawyer were present for the meeting but the proprietress had adamantly refused to appear.”
This failure to attend the meeting had apparently led to Chuma-Udeh’s decision to close down the school.
Meanwhile, officers of the Anambra State Joint Enforcement Team have been ordered to ensure careful compliance with the school closure order.
“The school remains closed until Mr Governor directs otherwise.” The commissioner had said.
Already, Mrs Chuma-Udeh has set up a seven-man committee to look into the ‘child mistreatment’ matter, and had advised the proprietress to endeavour to appear before the Committee as her failure to appear this time would lead to her arrest and prosecution.
