Akwa Ibom’s Education Ministry has barred three students from all public and private schools over alleged attacks on teachers but has not disclosed the evidence, investigation findings or legal basis for the statewide ban.
The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education has banned three students from gaining admission into any public or private school in the state over their alleged involvement in assaults on teachers and other school staff.
The affected students are Miracle Anietie Okon and Goodnews Anietie Okon of Ndikpo Grammar School, Ikot Obio Nko, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, and Elisha Essien James of Community Secondary School, Aka Offot, Uyo.
The ministry said the decision followed investigations into incidents involving students who allegedly engaged in violence against teachers and other staff, including instances where students invited touts and other unauthorised persons to assault school personnel.
It said students found to have “instigated, participated in, or aided” the assault of teachers or staff through touts or other unauthorised persons would be prohibited from gaining admission into public or private schools in Akwa Ibom.
PREMIUM TIMES had reported how secondary school students beat up their teachers in Ogun State.
The Ministry of Education in Akwa Ibom also directed that, where applicable and within the limits of the law and relevant regulations, information about such students could be shared with other schools in the state for “appropriate consideration and action.”
Principals of schools where the affected students previously attended were directed to forward their photographs to the Association of Confederation of Principals of Public Schools platform to facilitate their identification and enforcement of the directive.
The ministry said the measure was necessary to protect teachers and students, maintain discipline and preserve a safe learning environment in schools.
It directed principals to report incidents of assault involving students to the ministry and the relevant board for investigation and further action.
The directive follows growing concerns over violence in schools and attacks on teachers, raising questions about the balance between maintaining discipline and ensuring that disciplinary measures imposed on students comply with applicable laws and regulations.
The ministry did not provide details in the directive on the specific incidents involving the three students, the findings of the investigations or the duration of the admission ban.
It also did not state whether the affected students or their parents were given an opportunity to respond to the allegations before the ban was imposed.
PREMIUM TIMES contacted the Commissioner for Education, Ubong Umoh, seeking clarification on the directive and the circumstances surrounding the ban.
The newspaper asked the commissioner to explain the specific incidents and evidence that led to the sanctions and the findings of the investigations conducted by the ministry.
It also sought clarification on whether the affected students and their parents were given an opportunity to respond to the allegations, as well as the law, regulation or education policy empowering the ministry to impose a statewide ban on admission.
PREMIUM TIMES further asked whether the directive constitutes a general policy applicable to other students found to have instigated, participated in or aided attacks on teachers and staff, or whether it applies specifically to the three students named in the directive.
Mr Umoh did not respond to calls, a text, or a WhatsApp message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
