By Ngozi Ikpeama
Enugu State Government has shut down a private school – Tender Link Schools, Trans Ekulu, Enugu – over an alleged
molestation of a three-year-old pupil of the school (names withheld).
Speaking shortly after sealing the school on November 17, the Commissioner for Children and Gender Affairs, Mrs Ngozi Enih, and the Commissioner for Education, Professor Nwabueze Mbah, said the incident happened on October 24.
Enih said a three-year-old child was molested by her teacher “and the teacher is in police custody. Other parents came up and spoke, and with the Executive Order, we have come to seal the school”, she said.
The Commissioner assured that justice would be done after police investigations. The perpetrator(s), she said, would be punished and “the school will remain sealed till police complete investigations”.
Professor Mbah said: “This is the type of incident that goes against the dream, vision and mission of the Governor. Schools are an extension of home quality education which means quality life”.
The Commissioner said that some parents reported that their children were molested by their class teacher “and in Enugu State, we have zero tolerance of children being molested”.
Mbah announced that the state government would embark on teachers’ training next week, begining with the newly recruited teachers, adding “Our children should feel free in the hands of teachers”.
He also disclosed that the state government would revisit the approval granted to private schools to operate in the state to ensure standard.
