NAN-H-56
Truancy
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Feb. 14, 2017 (NAN) The Oyo State Government, in its effort to clamp down on truancy across the state, on Tuesday arrested eight students in Ibadan for roaming the streets during school hours.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students were arrested by a team led by Alhaji Abidemi Siyanbade, Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Relations.
The students, from Methodist Grammar School, Bodija; Bishop Onabanjo Memorial Grammar School, Bodija and St. Luke’s Grammar School, Molete, were later taken to the Oyo State Social Development Centre, Samonda for counseling.
Siyanbade, thereafter, directed the parents and principals of the arrested students to pick them up at the centre.
He told newsmen after the exercise that the team acted on the directive of Gov. Abiola Ajimobi to clamp down on truancy in the state.
Siyanbade said that the exercise would be regular as the state government was unhappy with students roaming the street during school hours.
“Just last June, the state government came up with an initiative targeted at repositioning the education sector of the state.
“This initiative evolved the newly inaugurated School Governing Board (SGB) across the 628 secondary schools in state.
“Imagine the students being tagged ‘Olu-Igbo’ because they are always in the bush when others are in class.
“You can see that the communities support the efforts of the government and I can assure them that we will achieve greater successes from the exercise,” he said.
He, however, said that the newly inaugurated SGB and other educational reforms would achieve the desired success only with the support of parents and teachers in the schools.
Similarly, Mrs Adekemi Opatunde, a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on Community Relations, told newsmen that the exercise was also to oversee the welfare of the students.
Opatunde called on all stakeholders to join hands with the state government in eradicating truancy in schools across the state.
“It is painful to see students roaming the streets when they are supposed to be in school. I am sure we have made a point with this exercise,” she said.
She particularly urged teachers to desist from the habit of sending students on errands when the students were meant to be in their classes.
NAN reports that some residents of the metropolis commended the government for the effort, pledging to give the state government the necessary support.
Mrs Elizabeth Onakomaiya, a trader, told newsmen that it has been the usual practice of the students to roam the streets during school hours.
Onakomaiya said that some of the students had become miscreants who disrupt the peace of the environment through the use of dangerous weapons.
Mr Mufutau Ayanfe, a businessman, while commending the effort, said he would love to see it sustained, intensified and supported by all.
However, some residents of Osungbade and Molete area of Ibadan called on the government to intensify efforts at combating truancy and wayward attitudes of students, particularly in their area.
They alleged that some students terrorise the area by involving in rape, fighting and smoking of Indian hemp. (NAN)
TAA/MAS/SOA
Edited by Moses Solanke/Oluwole Sogunle