Cross River Government Shuts 69 Private Schools Over Non-Compliance

The Cross River government closed 69 private schools across the state for failing to meet education reform standards.
Many parents complained that the sudden action would leave pupils idle and affect their academic progress.
School owners appealed for more time to comply, saying they were already working on facility upgrades when the schools were sealed.
The Education Reform Policy aims to sanitize the education system by enforcing uniform standards in both public and private schools.

Dozens of private schools in Cross River State have been sealed off by the government, leaving hundreds of pupils stranded and parents outraged.

The state government, through the Ministry of Education, announced that 69 private schools were shut down between October 20 and 21 for allegedly failing to comply with operational guidelines set under the new Education Reform Policy.

The enforcement exercise was led by the Commissioner for Education, Senator Stephen Odey, who explained that the move was part of efforts to restore order and credibility in the state’s education system. According to him, only schools that meet the ministry’s minimum standards will be allowed to operate.

However, parents and proprietors have condemned the sudden closure, saying it could jeopardize the education of thousands of children.

“Our children are now at home doing nothing while others continue learning,” said Mrs. Maria Umoh, a mother of four. “The government should have given the schools more time to meet the requirements.”

Some school owners revealed that they had already started improving their classrooms and teaching materials when government task force officials arrived unannounced to lock up their premises. They appealed for a grace period to complete compliance.

The Education Reform Policy, introduced earlier this month, seeks to standardize operations across both public and private schools in Cross River. It mandates the use of approved textbooks, a uniform academic calendar, and limits graduation ceremonies to exit classes only. The policy also fixes school closing times, requiring primary schools to end by 1:00 pm and secondary schools by 2:00 pm.

To enforce the new system, the state has created two education task forces, one to identify and shut down illegal schools, and another to monitor compliance across all local governments.

But education experts warn that the approach could worsen inequality if no alternative arrangements are made for displaced students. On local radio stations in Calabar, parents and teachers have urged the government to adopt a gradual approach that balances quality assurance with students’ welfare.

For now, many affected pupils remain at home, waiting for a resolution that will allow them to return to the classroom.