Benin City: The Edo State Government will, tomorrow, Monday, September 12, 2022, begin the enforcement of arrest and prosecution of parents and guardians of out-of-school children in the state as schools reopen statewide for the 2022/2023 academic session.

To kick off the enforcement, officials of the Edo State Ministry of Education, led by the Commissioner, Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe will be visiting various streets and other locations within the state between 7.40 am and 2.45pm daily to ensure compliance to the directive.

According to Oviawe, the state government, in partnership with the judiciary, has set up special courts to prosecute any parent whose child or ward is found on the streets within school hours.

She said, “The Edo State Ministry of Education will tomorrow, Monday, September 12, 2022, when the new academic calendar begins, kick off the enforcement of the arrest and prosecution of parents and guardians of out-of-school children, in compliance with the directive of the Edo State Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

“Officials of the Ministry will be at various locations across the state to enforce compliance to the new directive, ensuring that all parents whose children or wards are found hawking or loitering on streets within school hours are tried and prosecuted accordingly.”

The Commissioner added, “While we intensify efforts to deepen quality education, especially in the basic education system, we call for the support of parents, guardians and other stakeholders in this regard. We urge residents to call 08182737088 to report any child not school.”