Ondo Government Suspends 27 Secondary School Students Over Bullying, Fighting, Gross Misconduct

Ondo State Government, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has indefinitely suspended 27 secondary school students over allegations of gross misconduct in three public schools in Akure.

The affected students are from Oyemekun Grammar School, Aquinas College, and CAC Grammar School, and have been barred from entering their school premises or participating in any school-related activities until further notice.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Ministry's Press Officer, Bisi Lawani, who disclosed that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Akindele Ige, personally visited the affected schools to enforce the disciplinary action.

According to the ministry, the decision followed several warnings, consultations, and engagements with school principals and other education stakeholders aimed at addressing the growing rate of indiscipline in public secondary schools. Despite these efforts, some students reportedly continued to engage in unacceptable behaviour.

During meetings with principals, vice-principals, and heads of departments, Dr. Ige stressed the importance of strengthening supervision, monitoring, and the consistent enforcement of disciplinary measures across schools.

He expressed concern over the increasing cases of bullying, fighting, truancy, and the circulation of indecent videos on social media, describing them as serious threats to a safe and productive learning environment.

"The Ministry maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards behaviours that undermine the integrity of our educational system. Schools are centres for character formation and academic excellence. The state government remains committed to ensuring that our schools are safe, disciplined, and conducive to learning," the statement read.

The ministry explained that the suspended students will remain out of school while their cases are reviewed by their respective school disciplinary committees in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

Dr. Ige also appealed to parents and guardians to become more actively involved in monitoring their children's behaviour, noting that instilling discipline is a shared responsibility between families and schools.

He assured residents that the ministry would continue routine inspections of schools across the state to ensure compliance with established rules and regulations.

The Permanent Secretary further warned that any student found guilty of bullying, fighting, or other serious acts of misconduct in the future would face appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with existing school regulations.

The Ondo State Government reaffirmed its commitment to promoting discipline, character development, and academic excellence in all public secondary schools across the state.