Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has warned teachers against using pupils to work in their private farms under the guise of practicals for agricultural studies.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Doyin Adebowale, gave the warning on Tuesday during a press conference in Akure, the state capital.
According to the governor, any teacher caught using pupils for domestic chores would be sanctioned severely.
“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.”
