The Edo State Government has withdrawn the licenses of two private schools following the tragic death of a 12-year-old pupil, Nathan Paul Spencer, who drowned while on his way to sit for an official school examination.
The State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, announced the decision during a condolence visit to the grieving family. He revealed that Nathan died on Saturday, July 5, 2025, while attempting to reach his examination center amidst heavy rainfall and flooding.
Preliminary investigations uncovered that the school management had registered Nathan to take the Middle Basic Assessment Examination at a different school in Egor Local Government Area—far from his residence in Ovia Local Government—without notifying his parents. The school’s headteacher, who collected the examination fee, reportedly failed to provide safe transportation for the child, leading to the tragic incident. Nathan fell into a flooded gutter and drowned while trekking in the rain to the exam venue.
In response, the government shut down the school and arrested its headteacher. A second private school also had its license revoked after it was found to have collected unauthorized fees from over 200 students. The Commissioner said both schools operated in clear violation of state education policies.
Dr. Iyamu, speaking on behalf of Governor Monday Okpebholo, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and assured the family that those responsible would be held accountable.
He also issued a stern warning to private school operators, urging them to adhere strictly to state education regulations. Parents were advised to monitor their children’s school activities closely and be wary of unlicensed education providers whom the Commissioner described as “hustlers disguising as school owners.”
The government reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing strict oversight of private schools to prevent further tragedies.