MINISTRY OF EDUCATION BEGINS SHUTDOWN OF ILLEGAL SCHOOLS
TEC News | October 20, 2025
The Cross River State Ministry of Education has launched a comprehensive enforcement exercise aimed at shutting down all illegal and unapproved schools operating within the state.
The operation, led by the Taskforce on Illegal and Unapproved Schools, began full-scale activities across the Calabar, Ikom, and Ogoja Educational Zones, following its inauguration earlier this month by the Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey.
According to the Ministry, the exercise forms part of ongoing efforts to sanitize the education sector, ensure compliance with regulations, and uphold quality learning standards across all schools in the state.
During the initial phase of the enforcement, 36 illegal schools were closed — 16 in the Calabar Zone, 10 in the Ikom Zone, and 10 in the Ogoja Zone. Full list of affected Schools available with TEC News.
In a statement, the Taskforce reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to maintaining educational standards and protecting learners from substandard and unregulated institutions. It warned that the exercise would continue until all illegal schools across the 18 Local Government Areas are identified and shut down.
The Ministry also advised parents and guardians to verify the approval status of any school before enrolling their children, noting that only schools duly accredited by the Ministry are authorized to operate.
This decisive move underscores the government’s determination to reform the education system and restore confidence in the quality of learning across Cross River State.
