Cross River State Government Shuts 36 Unapproved Schools Over Lack of Registration

The Cross River State Government Shuts 36 Unapproved Schools Over Lack of Registration. The State has ordered the closure of 36 unapproved schools operating without official registration across three local government areas.

The action follows a recent inspection carried out by the State Task Force on Illegal Schools, which was established earlier this month to monitor compliance with education regulations and uphold academic standards across the state.

Cross River State Government Shuts 36 Unapproved Schools: A Response to Educational Standards

Confirming the development in Calabar on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Stephen Odey, described the situation as “unfortunate”, noting that some individuals were exploiting unsuspecting parents by running unregistered schools.

According to Professor Odey, the enforcement covered the Calabar, Ikom, and Ogoja education zones as part of government efforts to ensure that only properly approved schools meeting the required standards continue to operate.

A report from the ministry revealed that:

• 16 schools were closed in Calabar,
• 10 in Ikom, and
• 10 in Ogoja.

All affected institutions were found to be operating without government approval or proper accreditation.

Government’s Position on Education Standards

“We have begun full-scale enforcement across the state to sanitise the system and restore confidence in the education sector. Only schools that have met the required standards will continue to operate,” Professor Odey stated.

He emphasised that the Ministry of Education will maintain consistent inspections until every illegal institution is either properly registered or permanently shut down.

Warning to Parents and School Operators

Professor Odey also urged parents and guardians to confirm the registration status of schools before enrolling their children, warning that the enforcement exercise will soon extend to all 18 local government areas of the state.

“This operation will continue until every illegal school is either regularised or closed. Our priority is to safeguard the quality and integrity of education in Cross River State,” he added.

He further appealed to school proprietors to comply with the registration process, stressing that the government’s intention is not to disrupt learning but to ensure that students receive quality education in a safe, approved environment.

Strengthening Cross River’s Education Sector

The latest clampdown underscores the Cross River Government’s commitment to improving education quality and protecting families from unapproved operators.

The Ministry of Education reaffirmed that enforcement would continue until every school in the state meets the official standards required for operation.