By Akinwale Kasali
Here is the news for parents in Ekiti state. Not a few of them will end up in jail, soon.
Here is why.
Their Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has announced that parents that deny their children, who are of school age, education, will end up in jail.
In Ekiti, as in other states, many of such children and parents abound.
Fayemi made this statement at Eporo during the enrollment  sensitisation campaign, encouraging parents and guardians to key into his administration’s free education programme.
He added that the State’s Child Rights Law states that every child has the right to be educated, and anyone who contravenes the law will face the wrath of the law.
The school enrollment exercise started for 2019/2020 academic session, with children being enrolled into schools for free.
Fayemi said, “We have a Child Rights Act in Ekiti which prohibits parents from disallowing children of school age to be out of school during school session.
“If your child is not in school when the school is in session, you have a lot to explain because we will apprehend the child whether he is found hawking on the street or engaging in any illicit activities which prevents him or her from being in school.
Fayemi who also consults pro bono for the United Nations added that “In implementing the law, we have a family court in the state that takes responsibility for children that are not in school and parents who fail in their responsibility,’’ Fayemi said.
He pledged his administration’s commitment to restoring the state to its pride of place as the fountain of knowledge.
The governor said his administration has provided instructional materials, furniture, and a conducive learning environment where teachers could effectively contribute to the growth and development of their pupils.
