The Cross River State Government has shut down 20 schools operating without the required approval in four local government areas.
The affected schools are located in Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Odukpani and Akamkpa Local Government Areas.
The Commissioner for Education, Stephen Odey, announced the enforcement exercise on Friday, warning that the affected schools must not reopen without government authorisation.
In a statement issued by the state Ministry of Information and Orientation on Saturday, Odey said proprietors who violated the closure order would face sanctions.
“The latest enforcement exercise, carried out by the Department of Quality Assurance in the Ministry of Education, underscores the government’s determination to ensure that all schools operate within the law and provide children with properly authorised and monitored learning environments,” the statement read.
The government said the exercise would be extended to all 18 local government areas to ensure compliance with education standards.
In Calabar Municipality, the affected schools are Impact Group of Schools, Gospel Beacon Academy and Divvy Bliss Schools.
In Calabar South, the government shut Warriors Seed Academy, Children of Promise Christian School, Future Amazing International Schools Limited, Glad Tidings Academy and Panorama International Schools.
The affected schools in Odukpani are De-Royal Academy School, Maria Assumpta Nursery/Primary School, Success Kids Nursery/Primary School, Delightsome International School, Sparkling Academy, Goodness Academy and Joanleff Excellent Institute.
In Akamkpa, the affected institutions are Creative Brain International School, St. Luck’s Anglican Nursery/Primary School, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Hot Brain Academy and Armour Christian International School.
The ministry urged school proprietors to obtain the necessary approval before commencing operations, warning that failure to comply with regulatory requirements would attract sanctions.
It added that monitoring and enforcement activities would continue across the state to ensure schools operate in line with established standards.