NOT pleased with the circumstances that led to the death of a 12-year-old pupil, Nathan Paul Spencer last weekend in Benin City, the Edo State Government has withdrawn the licenses of two private schools and arrested the head of one of the affected schools.
The state Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu disclosed this during a condolence visit to the parents of the deceased, explaining that the victim died while going to write the First School Leaving Certificate Examination last Saturday.
According to him, “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, July 5, 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 Area and had negligently taken the child to another school in Egor Local Government Area for the examination.
“Tragically, Nathan fell into a gutter and drowned during the heavy rain when he was taking him from the Local Government Area to another.”
The Commissioner, who expressed displeasure over the incident, delivered Governor Monday Okpebholo’s condolence to the family.
He added that the State Government would ensure that those responsible for the pupil’s death are held accountable.
In a related development, 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 authorization.
According to him, the head of the schools connived to collect money from the students, divert payment into the State’s Internally Generated Revenue account, and use the latter as a centre for the exam.
The development left the children stranded under the rain until the State Ministry of Education intervened.
He charged parents to be vigilant, monitor their kids closely and not leave them in the hands of hustlers in the disguise of being school owners.
