The Lagos State Ministry of Education, on Wednesday, announced it has commenced investigation of the Principal of Odomola Junior Secondary School, Epe for sending a student out of school over an election poster.
The prompt recall of the Principal followed the complaint of a parent that his child was sent out of Odomola Junior Secondary School, Epe for using the poster of one of the contestants in the last election to wrap his books.
A protest note supposedly made available by parents of the child reads, “This is to inform you all, that my daughter, Marvelous Barinaadaa, was sent away from Odomola Secondary School today 14th March 2023 by the school principal, just because my daughter uses Peter Obi’s poster paper to rap her notebook. This is just a ten-year-old child. She didn’t know anything about politics, but was sent away from school without informing the parents.”
The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, in a statement tagged: “LASG “Investigates Student Sent Out Of School Over Election Poster”, signed by Ganiu Lawal, Assistant Director, Public Affairs announced that the Principal of the school has been recalled to provide explanations about the incident, saying the state has never instructed and school principal, personnel or teacher to act in such manner.
The statement reads in parts: “The Lagos State Government, the Ministry of Education and all its agencies will never instruct any school principal, personnel or teacher to act in such a manner.
“The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, reassures the public that the matter will be dealt with within the scope of our strict regulations as the reason for sending home the student is unacceptable, if true.
“Mrs. Adefisayo also hinted that another school principal at Odonguyan who was caught on camera, as shared on social media, promoting her political choice to the students has been subjected to appropriate disciplinary measures.
It added, “The Ministry promotes and runs a public school system devoid of politics and political insinuations.”
The Ministry assured that a thorough investigation of the matter will be carried out and anyone found culpable will be subjected to disciplinary measures as laid down in the civil service rules.
The alleged action of the principal has elicited negative reactions as respondents condemned the act.
Old Students Association Dismisses Allegation
In a reaction to the development, the President of Odomola Secondary School Old Students Association, OSSOSA, Epe, Apagun Saka Shola told newsmen that the JSS2 student was issued an exit note for allegedly distributing posters of Obi in the classroom.
Apagun explained that the move by the principal was to restrain the nuisance caused by Marvelous Barinaadaa in sharing the posters with other students.
His words: “I have been able to reach the principal. The issue circulating is far from the truth. There is a directive to stop all forms of campaigning in the classroom as some political parties use the students to campaign in class.
“The principal did not expel or suspend the student. She sent her home for causing havoc and disturbance in the class during recess by chatting and sharing LP posters with her mates.
The OSSOSA President called for calm, saying the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education is on the issue.
