The Lagos State Government has shut the Redeemers Nursery and Primary School located in the Ogba area of the state after a five-year-old pupil drowned during a swimming lesson organised by the school in the Ikeja area of the state.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, on Monday evening, about two months after the tragic incident occurred in May.
Punch Metro reported the pupil, identified as Chidera Eze, and his colleagues went for the swimming lesson at the Ivory Health Club, Ogundana Street, Ikeja, under the supervision of some teachers and caregivers of the school.
However, during the training, Eze, and his colleagues were said to be playing at the tip of the pool when he slipped into it.
Following the closure of the school on Monday, Mrs Adefisayo revealed that the state government has started an investigation into the death of Chidera.
“The Lagos State Ministry of Education has shut the Redeemers Nursery and Primary School, Ogba. The school will remain closed, pending an administrative investigation of its operations and procedures as well as the conduct of its officials – in line with schools’ safety standards and guidelines.
“The investigation is sequel to the death of a five-year-old pupil, who is suspected to have drowned during a swimming lesson while in the custody of the school. The police are investigating the matter.
“A preliminary probe by the Office of Education Quality Assurance of the Ministry has shown that the Redeemers Nursery and Primary School, Ogba, is yet to conclude its registration and is, therefore, not yet an approved school.
“The Ministry is concerned about the safety of the pupils, hence the need for intervention.
The school will remain closed until all the required approval processes are concluded. Parents are advised to note the closure and wait for the conclusion of the administrative investigation,” the statement read.
