The Ogun state government says students without 70 per cent attendance will no longer be allowed to sit for examinations in its schools.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abayomi Arigbabu, stated this on Tuesday during a visit to Abeokuta Girls Grammar School, Onikolobo.

“Absenteeism of learners in schools is worrisome to us as a government. This, we believe, is also part of the behaviour that we frown at,” he said.

“We have therefore ensured digitalisation of names of all our learners, this will make it impossible for anyone that does not record 70 per cent attendance to sit for any examination,” he warned.

The commissioner said that this was part of measures put in place to reduce misdemeanour in schools, and advised students to shun behaviours that would bring shame to their families, schools and the state.

Mr Arigbabu said that to make the measure effective, private schools had been directed not to admit any student expelled from a government school.

On the case of a viral video of some students smoking Shisha in a school in Ogun, the commissioner said the suspended students had been pardoned and had returned to school after undergoing counselling.

(NAN)