Any teacher caught involving students in menial jobs or private farm work in Ondo State shall henceforth be sanctioned and prosecuted by government.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu gave the warning while briefing government house correspondents in Akure
Speaking on behalf of the governor his Senior Special Assistant on special duties and strategy, Dr Doyin Odebowale alleged that some teachers were fond of either sending students to their private houses for cooking or private farms for farming
The SSA pointed out that such habit was contrary to teaching ethics as it could drag the state’s education backwards
He maintained that the office of the special duties was ready to prosecute any teacher found abusing the students under any disguise
Dr Odebowale however assured committed teachers in the state of adequate rewards.
He urged teachers to desist from using pupils to work in the private farms under the guise of practicals for agricultural studies.
Adebowale said any teacher caught using pupils for domestic chores would be sanctioned severely and prosecuted.
According to him, “We gathered that some teachers in schools in rural areas have formed the habit of using pupils to work in their private farms under the guise of doing agricultural practicals. Some send female pupils to be cooking for them.
“We are sending warning to teachers to desist from such act. Our office will not hesitate to prosecute any teacher found abusing our children.
“The government is not asking the teachers not to instill discipline. Government does not interfere in the running of schools but we insist the pupils must participate in agricultural practicals in the school farms. We are going to monitor the schools and whoever is found wanting will be sanctioned.
“We will follow the law to sanction teachers. If you take pupils home to go and cook for you, to work in your private farms. We will invoke the law.
“We recognised the sacrifice of genuine teachers. We insist that nobody will take advantage of our children. Hire private hands to work in your farms. Whoever is caught will not find it funny,” Akeredolu’s aide said.