Cross River State govt has shut down 36 unapproved schools operating illegally across three local government areas of the state.

The affected schools, ranging from nursery to secondary level, were sealed for running without registration or official approval from the Ministry of Education.

Confirming the development in Calabar on Tuesday, October 21, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Stephen Odey, described the trend as “unfortunate,” lamenting that some individuals continue to exploit unsuspecting parents through substandard and unlicensed educational institutions.

Odey disclosed that the closures were carried out by the state’s Task Force on Illegal Schools, inaugurated earlier this month to identify and sanction operators of unapproved schools.

“We have begun full-scale enforcement across the three educational zones in Calabar, Ikom, and Ogoja to sanitise the system and ensure that only schools meeting the required standards are allowed to operate,” he said.

According to the Commissioner, 16 schools were shut down in Calabar, 10 in Ikom, and another 10 in Ogoja, following an extensive inspection exercise that revealed serious non-compliance with regulatory requirements.

He warned that the ministry would no longer tolerate “mushroom” schools that compromise educational quality and mislead parents.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to upholding quality education, Odey stressed that only schools duly registered and accredited by the ministry will be permitted to operate.

“This exercise will continue until every illegal school is either regularised or shut down. We are determined to protect the integrity of education in Cross River State,” he said.

The Commissioner added that the enforcement would soon be extended to all 18 local government areas of the state as part of a broader campaign to restore standards across the education sector.

Odey also cautioned parents and guardians to verify the approval status of schools before enrolling their children, warning that those who fail to do so risk wasting resources on substandard institutions.

“We are appealing to parents to play their part by ensuring that their children are enrolled only in approved schools. This will help sustain the state government’s efforts to provide quality education for all,” he added.

themomentNG understands that the clampdown follows a series of complaints from education stakeholders over the proliferation of unregistered private schools in the state.

Many of these institutions, according to officials, operate without qualified teachers, proper facilities, or adherence to the national curriculum.

The government said it will continue collaborating with security agencies, local education authorities, and school owners to ensure that the exercise is sustained and that offenders are prosecuted when necessary.