2026/2027 Session: Ogun Intensifies School Enrolment Drive, Warns Against Illegal Fees

ABEOKUTA — The Ogun State Government has intensified its campaign to encourage parents to enrol their children and wards in schools, assuring residents that its free education policy remains fully in force across public schools in the state.

stressedThe Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists on preparations for the 2026/2027 academic session, urging parents, traditional institutions, religious organisations, market associations and other stakeholders to support the government’s enrolment drive.

The commissioner said the government was determined to make public schools increasingly attractive by improving facilities and ensuring that primary schools across the state were fully functional.

According to the commissioner, the government’s interventions are aimed at addressing some of the factors that traditionally made parents prefer private schools for their children.

The commissioner appealed particularly to market women, traders and members of the general public to ensure that school-age children are enrolled and kept in school.

The media, the commissioner added, would be engaged through jingles and other public enlightenment programmes on television and other platforms to drive the campaign.

The commissioner also called on community and traditional institutions, religious organisations and other stakeholders to support the enrolment campaign and ensure that parents are adequately informed about approved school requirements and government policies.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to free and qualitative education, the commissioner warned school authorities against imposing unauthorised charges on parents.

The commissioner said the free education policy remained “sacrosanct,” stressing that school authorities were expected to comply strictly with government directives on fees.

“Parents should not be subjected to unauthorised charges in schools,” the commissioner said, adding that the ministry would continue to monitor compliance and investigate reported violations.

The commissioner disclosed that the government had previously received complaints from parents over demands for unauthorised payments, including purported graduation fees.

He therefore declared zero tolerance for illegal fees in public schools.

The commissioner also directed school authorities to strengthen discipline while protecting the dignity and rights of learners.

He stressed the need for schools to adopt safer and more constructive approaches to managing students, warning teachers against corporal punishment and other prohibited disciplinary practices.

Prof. Arigbabu urged school heads and teachers to strengthen moral instruction, guidance and counselling, and character development.

School assemblies, he said, should be used regularly to teach learners values and responsible behaviour.

He further charged schools to protect learners from bullying, abuse, cultism, drug-related activities, violence and other harmful influences.

The commissioner said school authorities, teachers, parents and learners were expected to uphold academic integrity, while monitoring and supervision mechanisms would be strengthened to prevent examination malpractice.

The commissioner also appealed to the media to support public enlightenment against examination malpractice and ensure that reports concerning examinations were properly verified before publication.

He expressed concern over instances where unverified claims circulated on the internet and were subsequently reported as news.

According to him, the government would continue to provide accurate information to the public while urging media organisations and online platforms to verify claims before publishing them.

The commissioner said the government’s broader preparations for the 2026/2027 academic session were focused not only on reopening schools but on creating a system that guarantees quality learning, safety, access, discipline, digital transformation and protection of learners’ rights.