‎Anambra government suspends nine headteachers over low Monday attendance

The Anambra State Government has taken disciplinary action against nine headteachers of state-run schools following a low turnout of pupils and students on Monday, February 9, 2026, despite a government directive to resume full academic activities at the start of the week.
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‎Dr. Vera Nwadinobi, Chairman of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), announced the two-week suspensions on Monday during an assessment tour of selected schools. Nwadinobi said the monitoring exercise was aimed at checking compliance with the state’s Executive Order ending the customary closure of schools on Mondays linked to the sit-at-home observance.
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‎At several schools visited across the state, the team found only a handful of pupils — and in some cases none at all — even though teachers were present. For example, only three pupils were recorded at Union Primary School, Ukpo, and none were found at Walter Eze Secondary School in the same community.
‎Similar patterns were reported at schools in Eziowelle, Abatete, Nteje and Atani.
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‎Following the findings, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo reportedly approved the suspensions, directing the affected headteachers to hand over their duties to the next most senior officers to ensure continuity of school administration. The government stated the measure reflects a “zero tolerance” approach to negligence and a commitment to restoring full academic engagement in public schools.
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‎The move follows the state’s issuance of an Executive Order abolishing school closures on Mondays, a practice previously tied to a sit-at-home movement. Under the directive, teachers or non-teaching staff absent on Mondays without approval may face salary deductions or forfeiture.
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