Teacher Arrested for Beating Pupil into Coma, School Shut Down

Primary school teacher in custody for beating pupil to coma, as state govt shuts down school permanently

Faith Nwonye, a 30-year-old instructor at the Landmark School Mgbakwu in the Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been placed under arrest on suspicion of putting a student, age eight, in a coma by beating her.

The school's permanent closure was also declared by Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the state commissioner of education.

Chuma-Udeh stated that she had asked the owner of the school and the concerned instructor to explain what transpired before the primary two student was brutalized.

Speaking soon after the meeting, the commissioner clarified that the school's closure was brought about by its illegality as well as the unpleasant incident.

She bemoaned the development and said that the victim's prospects of survival while being admitted to the hospital are presently about 20%, based on the medical professional's assessment.

The commissioner warned that those who committed these crimes were doing it at their own risk. He included assaulting a child and operating an unlicensed school in the state as crimes.

She stated: “We received this unfortunate incident from an illegal school in Mgbakwu that a child was beaten to a coma over the weekend. On behalf of the state government, we invited the proprietress of the illegal school as well as the teacher who purportedly beat the child.

“We have handed the matter to the police for further investigations, as we await Mr Governor's directives. Meanwhile, the school is closed down indefinitely because it's not supposed to exist in the first instance.

“Any parent who is enrolling their child in an illegal school is doing so at their peril. To the proprietors of private schools, anyone running an unapproved school in Anambra is a criminal. It's a criminal offence to run an illegal school in the state.

“Whether the school is legal or not, it's criminal to beat a child. According to the doctor, the chances of survival of the child are 20%. As soon as the police are done, the teacher will face other institutions against child rights. She's going to have the full wrath of the law brought upon her over her actions.”

She emphasized that the governor of Anambra State was opposed to violence against women, children, or anybody else, and that it was not a feature of this administration.