BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
The Edo State Government has revoked the licenses of two private schools over the death of a pupil, Nathan Paul Spencer.
The government also arrested the head of one of the affected schools.
The State Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, who disclosed this during a condolence visit to the parents of the deceased, explained that the victim died while going to write the First School Leaving Certificate Examination last Saturday.
He said, “Edo State Government has shut down two schools after a 12-year-old student, Nathan Paul Spencer, died while on his way to sit for the Middle Basic Assessment Examination on Saturday, the 5th July 2025.
“The tragedy occurred during a heavy downpour that caused severe flooding in the area. An investigation revealed that the management of the pupil’s school had registered him to write the examination at a different school without informing his parents.
“Furthermore, it was revealed that the Head of the school had taken the registration fee from Nathan’s parents in Ovia Local Government and had negligently taken the child to another school in Egor Local Government for the examination.
“Tragically, Nathan fell into a gutter and drowned during the heavy rain when he was trekking from the local government to another.”
The commissioner, who was displeased over the incident, delivered Governor Monday Okpebholo’s deepest condolences to the family.
He added that the government would ensure that those responsible for the pupil’s death are held accountable.
Meanwhile, the commissioner hinted that two other private schools would be shut down for allegedly collecting illegal fees from over 200 students without the government’s authorisation.
According to him, the head of the schools connived to collect money from the students, divert payment into the State Internally Generated Revenue account, and use the latter as a centre for the exam.
The development left the children stranded in the rain until the State Ministry of Education intervened.
He advised parents to monitor their children closely and not leave them to school owners.
