A 30-year-old teacher, Faith Nwonye, from Landmark School in Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been arrested for allegedly beating an eight-year-old pupil into a coma. The incident prompted the state government to permanently shut down the school.
The Commissioner for Education, Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, informed journalists on Monday that both the school’s proprietor and Nwonye had been summoned to explain the brutalization of the primary two pupil. She clarified that the closure was due not only to the incident but also because the school was operating illegally.
“We received this unfortunate incident from an illegal school in Mgbakwu where a child was beaten into a coma over the weekend,” Chuma-Udeh said. “On behalf of the State Government, we invited the proprietress of the illegal school as well as the teacher responsible. The matter has been handed to the police for further investigation, and we are awaiting directives from the governor. Meanwhile, the school is closed indefinitely because it was not supposed to exist in the first place.”
Chuma-Udeh expressed deep sorrow over the situation, noting that the child’s chances of survival are only 20 percent, according to the attending medical doctor. She emphasized that regardless of the school’s legal status, beating a child is a criminal act.
“The teacher will face the full wrath of the law once the police complete their investigation,” she stated. “Anambra State abhors violence against children, women, and anyone else. This administration and Mr. Governor are firmly against such actions.”
