The Edo State Government has withdrawn the licenses of two private schools over the death of a 12-year-old pupil, Nathan Paul Spencer.
The government also arrested the headteacher of one of the affected schools.
Commissioner for Education in the state, 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.
“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 him from the local Government to another,” the Commissioner narrated.
While expressing displeasure over the incident, the Commissioner delivered Governor Monday Okpebholo’s deepest condolence to the family.
He added that the state Government would ensure that those responsible for the pupil’s death were held accountable.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner added that two other private schools would be shut down for allegedly collecting illegal fees from over 200 students, without government’s authorisation
According to him, the head of the schools connived to collect money from the students.
The development left the children stranded under the rain, until the State Ministry of Education intervened.
He, therefore, advised parents to monitor their kids closely and not leave them in the hands of those he called hustlers in the disguise of being school owners.
