Obaseki to crack down on parents of out-of-school children, sets up special courts

Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, has announced that his administration will begin apprehending and prosecuting parents and guardians of children who are not in school as of the start of the upcoming academic session on September 12.

Obaseki informed reporters on Sunday that all necessary equipment was ready for enforcement.

He went on to say that special courts had been established by the government in collaboration with the state’s judiciary to bring charges against those who had abused children in the state’s schools, both physically and sexually.

The governor vowed that his administration would ensure every Edo child received the necessary care, security, and well-being.

He declared: “Parents who knowingly allow their child to be forced into manual labor under the age of eighteen will face legal action.” We are grateful that the Chief Judge has established special courts that will be used to try and convict anyone who harms children or engages in physical or sexual abuse within our educational system.

When classes resume on September 12, any child caught hawking or loitering during school hours will be arrested, and their parents or guardians will face serious legal action. To make sure that no child is abused in Edo State, we have individuals with specialized training keeping an eye on and supervising our kids.

“Teaching must start on Monday, September 12, 2022, when school resumes. Along with the Commissioner of Education, I will personally monitor all state schools and send out a special squad to do so,” the governor added.

Speaking specifically about the state’s school infrastructure, Obaseki declared, “I have given the Ministry of Education the order to demolish any deteriorated buildings in our schools. We will relocate the pupils from those seriously dilapidated schools to other ones while the buildings are rebuilt.

To guarantee that no child learns while seated on the floor, a significant amount of resources will be allocated. No child in Edo should be forced to learn on the ground by the time the Commissioner of Education finishes her tenure.

“I have additionally ordered the Ministry of Education to establish a cleanup system to clean all Edo schools starting on September 12, which is also the start date of the new school calendar.”