Anambra Government Warns Students Against Missing School on Mondays

The Anambra State Government has warned that students who deliberately stay away from school on Mondays in compliance with the controversial sit-at-home order in parts of the South-East may face disciplinary action.

State education authorities say the measure is part of efforts to ensure that schools operate normally throughout the week and to prevent continued disruption of academic activities.

The warning was issued by the Commissioner for Education, Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, during an official visit to Mount Olive Schools and Spring Field Academy, two private schools located in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Onitsha.

According to the commissioner, the directive follows instructions from Chukwuma Soludo aimed at restoring normal academic schedules across the state. She explained that the state government had invited school management to clarify why some pupils were still absent from classes on Mondays despite the government’s order that schools must remain open.

Chuma-Udeh stressed that the government would no longer tolerate deliberate absence linked to the sit-at-home directive. She warned that any student who misses school on Mondays without a legitimate reason could face sanctions, including temporary suspension.

The commissioner added that the policy is intended to address the fear and uncertainty that have discouraged many families from sending children to school at the beginning of the week since the sit-at-home practice emerged in the region.

Under the proposed measure, students who default may be suspended from school for up to one week, with the policy applying to both public and private schools in the state.

During discussions with officials, the management of Mount Olive Schools informed the commissioner that Monday attendance had improved in recent weeks as more parents began complying with the government’s directive.

However, administrators at Spring Field Academy explained that some parents remain hesitant to send their children to school due to lingering security concerns. Both schools assured the Ministry of Education that they would continue working with parents to encourage full compliance and restore normal attendance.

Meanwhile, officials from the Anambra State Ministry of Education also monitored the conduct of the 2026 Transition Placement Examination across several centres in the state.

The commissioner, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Ifeoma Agbaizu, visited examination centres in Awka, including Nnamdi Azikiwe University Demonstration Secondary School, Igwebeze Primary School, and Igwebike Grammar School.

Officials reported that the examination was conducted smoothly at the centres visited, with no major incidents recorded.