Delta : Government suspends five secondary school students over alleged cult activities

The Delta State Government on Tuesday suspended five students of Osadenis Mixed Secondary School over their alleged involvement in cult activities and coming to school in mufti.

Barrister Chiedu Ebie, the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education who confirmed the suspension of the students to journalists in Asaba, said, ”After proper investigation of the activities of these students, it was clear that they are members of a cult group, and they come to school without school uniform, rather in mufti. Delta State Government will not tolerate this. If after their suspension, they don’t change, they will be expelled.

Saying that the five affected students (names withheld) would stay at home for one month, the Commissioner also disclosed that any member of staff of the school who absent themselves from work without cogent reasons would be adequately sanctioned.

It was gathered that Osadenis Mixed Secondary School had in the last two years been involved in unwholesome activities, particularly in alleged cultism and sex scandals; a situation most of the parents had to withdraw their children from the school to other schools.

But the Basic and Secondary Education Commissioner who expressed displeasure over the matter, said that the principal of the school, Mrs. Ada Akpata was not doing enough to discipline the students, noting that the school has a bad image as a result of incessant vandalization of educational facilities in the school, and gross indiscipline on the part of the students including some of the staff of the school.

He said, “I am satisfied with the level of compliance to government directive on resumption of academic activities in primary and secondary schools across the state in all the schools’ I have visited so far except Osadenis Mixed Secondary School Asaba where a good number of staff were absent including the principal of the school.”

The Commissioner who, however, urged parents/guardians to allow their children and wards to resume school immediately, said that the Ministry of Education would sustain its periodic monitoring and inspection to schools in the state in order to ensure quality assurance and standard in the education sector of the state. - Daily Post