Lagos state govt summons principal for allegedly punishing student over political sticker.

The complaint of a parent, Mr. Barinada, who claimed that his daughter, Marvellous Barinada, was expelled from Odomola Junior Secondary School, Epe, for using the poster of one of the candidates in the most recent election to wrap his books, is being looked into by the Lagos State Ministry of Education.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Education, the principal had been asked to explain what had truly happened.

A viral Facebook post by the father, which had a screenshot of the exit slip, read, “This is to inform you all that my daughter, Marvelous Barinada, was exit (sic) from Odomola Secondary School today, March 14, 2023, by the school principal, just because my daughter uses Peter Obi’s poster paper to wrap her school notebooks, and this girl is just 10 years old; she doesn’t know anything about politics, but she was sent away from school without informing the parent because they said we supported Peter Obi and the Labour Party.

“Please, is this act by the school principal good? See what the school principal wrote in that letter. And after (sic), we will say we are one Nigeria.”

However, the Lagos State Government’s statement read, “The Lagos State Ministry of Education is investigating the complaint of a parent that his child was sent out of school for using the poster of one of the contestants in the last election to wrap his books. The incident was reported to have happened at Odomola Junior Secondary School, Epe.

“The ministry has recalled the principal, who will be asked to explain the incident.

“The Lagos State Government, the Ministry of Education, and all its agencies will never instruct any school principal, personnel, or teacher to act in such a manner.”

The public was reassured by the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, that the situation will be handled “within the ambit of our rigorous regulations as the cause for sending the pupil home is unacceptable – if true.”

Adefisayo also indicated that the Odonguyan school principal who was captured on camera and posted to social media pushing her political choice to kids had faced the proper repercussions.

“The ministry promotes and runs a public school system devoid of politics and political insinuations. A thorough investigation of the matter will be carried out and anyone found culpable will be subjected to disciplinary measures as laid down in the civil service rules,” the statement read.