As part of efforts at ensuring that all school-age children benefit from the Kayode Fayemi-led administration’s free and compulsory education up to Junior Secondary School class three, the Ekiti State Government has commenced apprehension of children found running errands or trading during school hours.
The State Child’s Right Implementation Committee yesterday apprehended nine such school-age children during school hours at the Okesha and Bisi markets in Ado Ekiti.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Alhaja Maryam Ogunlade however explained that the apprehended children were release after their parents and guardians signed undertaking that the children would henceforth attend school regularly.
Alhaja Ogunlade frowned at what she described as gross violation of the rights of the children, stressing that making the children run errands and keeping them in markets while they should be in school is contrary to the law of the land.
Warning that untrained children would grow up to become nuisances to their families and the society in general, Ogunlade charged parents to shun acts that can jeopardize the future of their children.
She reiterated the commitment of the Fayemi led administration to the general wellbeing of the people of the State particularly school-age children, noting that eradication of all forms of fees in schools through his first executive order at the inception of his second term in office is an indication of his determination to ensure a qualitative, free and compulsory education in the State.
Ogunlade said the exercise would continue across the State, stressing that it is a crime to keep school-age children out of school during school hours and culprits would be made to face the wrath of the law.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
