* Berates Mgt for negligence
The Anambra State government has announced the immediate closure of Blessed Wisdom Model School at No. 26, Ide Drive, Federal Housing Estate, Onitsha.
The closure followed a report to the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, about the grievous bodily harm sustained by a two-year-old pupil, Ifechukwu Egbuninwe.
According to the report, the victim broke her arm and sustained injuries on her tongue under mysterious circumstances.
The report reads in part: “The proprietress of the school never reached out to the parents and/or guardian of the child to inform them of her injury nor was first aid treatment administered to her when she sustained the said injury.
“Again, the said proprietress failed and/or refused to reach out at any point to the family of the victim to ascertain the welfare of the said victim.
“They continued carrying on their school business as if the life of the said Ifechukwu Davida Egbuniwe meant nothing.”
The commissioner, Chuma-Udeh ,condemned the irreverent attitude to human life by the school’s management.
She frowned at the school’s proprietress’ disobedience and blatant refusal to appear before her when invited on Friday for an explanation in the presence of the child, her parents and their lawyer.
“This failure to appear on the part of the proprietress led to the decision to close down the school. Every child belongs to the state, we cannot condone irreverence to human life,” she warned.
While calling on officers of the State Joint Enforcement Team to ensure strict compliance with the closure order, the commissioner directed that the school remain closed till Governor Chukwuma Soludo authorises its reopening.
She further disclosed the setting up of a seven-man committee to investigate the matter, advising the proprietress to ensure she appeared before the panel for explanation or risk arrest and prosecution over failure.