Ondo govt suspends 27 students indefinitely over alleged misconduct

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Government has suspended 27 students from three public secondary schools in Akure over alleged acts of gross misconduct and indiscipline.

The affected students are from Oyemekun Grammar School, Aquinas College and CAC Grammar School. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said the indefinite suspension took immediate effect following reports of behaviour that violated the state’s code of conduct for public schools.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Akindele Ige, who visited the schools to enforce the directive, said the action became necessary despite repeated warnings and engagements with school authorities on measures to curb indiscipline.

Ige said the ministry had consistently held meetings with principals and other stakeholders to improve discipline, but noted that some students continued to engage in acts considered unacceptable.

He expressed concern over the growing cases of bullying, fighting, truancy and the circulation of indecent videos on social media, warning that such conduct undermines learning and damages the image of the state’s education sector.

According to him, the state government maintains a zero-tolerance policy against misconduct, stressing that schools must remain centres of discipline, character development and academic excellence.

The ministry said the suspended students would not be allowed on their school premises or participate in any school activity until investigations by the schools’ disciplinary committees, in collaboration with the ministry, are concluded.

Ige also urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their children’s activities and work with school authorities to instill discipline, warning that students found guilty of bullying, fighting or other serious misconduct would continue to face appropriate sanctions.