Akure — The Ondo State Government has cautioned students against roaming the streets during school hours, warning that defaulters will face sanctions.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Igbekele Ajibefun, issued the warning on Tuesday in Akure while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Ajibefun said a task force would be set up across the state’s three senatorial districts to monitor and apprehend truant students.
“The task force comprises mainly retired principals and teachers from the locality to complement the ministry’s efforts. We cannot do it alone,” he explained.
He stressed that the measure aligns with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s directive to clamp down on truancy in all public schools.
According to him, aside from apprehending erring students, the heads of schools where truancy is rampant would also be sanctioned.
Ajibefun urged parents and guardians to partner with the government and schools to monitor their children, while advising students to stay focused on academics.
“Students must desist from roaming the streets during school hours to realise their academic pursuits and their parents’ dreams,” he said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to quality education.
