Monday Sit-at-Home: Soludo Orders Suspension Of Absent Students

The Anambra State Government has directed that students who fail to attend school on Mondays without valid justification will face a one-week suspension, as part of renewed efforts to enforce full academic activities across the state.

The commissioner for education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, disclosed this while addressing the management of two Onitsha-based schools summoned over alleged non-compliance with the state’s directive on Monday attendance.

She said the measure followed a directive from Governor Chukwuma Soludo, and reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to end disruptions associated with the long-running Monday sit-at-home in parts of the South-East.

“This measure is in line with the state government’s resolve to ensure full resumption of academic activities on Mondays across Anambra.

“I urge schools to comply with the directive,” the commissioner said.

Chuma-Udeh added that any student absent from school on Mondays without valid justification would be suspended for one week.

The affected schools Mount Olive School and Spring Field Academy, GRA, Onitsha, were invited by the ministry to explain reported low attendance on Mondays.

While Mount Olive Schools informed the ministry that attendance had improved, Spring Field Academy attributed poor turnout to parents’ reluctance to send their children to school at the start of the week.

Both schools, however, pledged to strengthen compliance with the government’s directive.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education, through the Examination Development Centre, conducted the 2026 Transition Placement Examination across designated centres in the state.

The commissioner said she monitored the exercise alongside the Permanent Secretary, Dr Ifeoma Agbaizu, visiting centres including Nnamdi Azikiwe University Demonstration School, Igwebeze Primary School and Igwebuike Grammar School in Awka.

The state government reiterated its commitment to restoring normalcy in schools and ensuring uninterrupted academic activities across Anambra.