Ondo Probes Alleged Unauthorised Blood Testing, N8,000 Charge

The Ondo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has denied authorising an alleged blood-testing exercise reportedly conducted at CAC Adu Memorial Grammar School, Oke-Aro, Akure. In a statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Bisi Lawani, on Tuesday, the ministry said it neither approved nor directed the exercise and stressed that school principals were not authorised to organise such activities or impose related charges without approval from the appropriate authorities. The ministry expressed particular concern over reports that students were asked to pay N8,000 for the alleged blood test, saying it had not approved any policy requiring students in public schools to pay such an amount. It added that any collection of the money, if established, was carried out without its authorisation.

The ministry said it had been informed of the reported involvement of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident and establishing the facts. It directed school principals and administrators to comply with government policies and exercise proper supervision over activities within their schools, warning against unauthorised financial charges and actions capable of undermining public confidence in the education system. Parents, guardians, students and members of the public were urged to report suspected irregularities in public schools to the appropriate authorities for investigation. The ministry said disciplinary and legal action would be taken against any officer found culpable if the allegations were established after due investigation, while reaffirming its commitment to protecting students’ welfare, promoting transparency and accountability, and maintaining the integrity of public education in the state.

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