Calls For Clarifications On Graduation Ceremonies, Reform In Punishments In Schools
By Rose Oranye
The Anambra State Ministry of Information and Value Reformation is seeking a joint framework with the Ministry of Education to drive Governor Chukwuemeka Soludo’s value reformation agenda and to reform school punishment policy across the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, proposed this on Friday, during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Education, Dr Ekene Ogugua, in Awka.
Dr Mefor congratulated Dr Ogugua on his appointment and said that education remained central to the Soludo administration’s five-pillar development plan.
He called for a review of school punishment, emphasising that it should be civil and focused on behaviour modification rather than relying solely on flogging or bullying by teachers.
He explained the concept of aversion – a form of consequence where learners understand the outcome of their actions and have the choice to avoid punishment – and warned that the absence of structured discipline could lead to “means-end inversion", citing instances where students assault teachers.
He suggested holding a workshop with school leaders, education experts, and parents to create a discipline policy based on research that follows the Child’s Rights Act, noting that laws, moral guidance, and enforcement are crucial for fostering a moral and ethical revival to create the new 'Onye Anambra' who will benefit from the infrastructure being developed by the Soludo Government.
"Governor Soludo aims to ensure that physical development is accompanied by human capital development and behaviour modification. Otherwise, in six months to one year, touts and criminality will destroy what we have built,” he warned.
In his response, Dr Ogugua thanked Dr Mefor and accepted the offer of partnership on both discipline reform and value reformation.
He reaffirmed the governor's commitments to free education, free antenatal care, teacher recruitment and training, school renovation, and digital transformation of education.
On discipline, Dr Ogugua disclosed that the ministry has already presented a draft policy to the State Executive Council and is updating it to align with the Child’s Rights Act, adding that the Education Ministry welcomes collaboration with the Information Ministry to finalise the document.
The Education Commissioner also clarified the government’s position on graduation ceremonies, saying that the ban has no exceptions until SS3 and that no student should be required to contribute money for that purpose.
“At SS3, no student should be mandated to pay for graduation ceremonies. If old boys, old girls, or any group want to organise a ceremony for them, that is fine. But there must be no financial imposition on students," he said.
Post a Comment