By Erewunmi Peace

The Anambra State Government has suspended nine headteachers and principals of state-owned schools after a monitoring exercise revealed extremely low student attendance on Monday, in defiance of directives to keep schools open.

Officials from the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) conducted inspections across several public schools and found that in some institutions no pupils were present, while others recorded attendance of only two to five students.

The suspended headteachers have been placed on a two-week administrative leave, with the government emphasizing that school leaders are responsible for ensuring students attend classes and comply with government policies.

Dr. Vera Nwadinobi, the Executive Secretary of ASUBEB, explained that the enforcement action is part of ongoing efforts to uphold the Executive Order mandating that schools remain operational on Mondays, despite previous sit‑at‑home directives in parts of the South-East region.

The state government has warned that any further violations will attract strict sanctions, reiterating its commitment to improving educational standards and ensuring uninterrupted learning in public schools.

Parents and guardians have been urged to encourage their children to attend school, while school administrators are reminded of their duty to maintain consistent attendance and uphold government directives.