The Old Boys’ Association of Abeokuta Grammar School, Ogun State, has insisted that parents, not schools, should be blamed for the alarming rate of cultism and other criminal activities in the state.
The President-General of the association, Barr Sunday Oduntan, stated this while briefing journalists on the activities to mark the 114th founder’s day anniversary of the association in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
Oduntan who lamented the high rate of cultism and other criminal activities among secondary school students in the state, said the society is bearing the brunt of failed parenting.
Speaking on the theme of the anniversary lecture: “Breaking the Yoke of Drugs, Rituals and Cultism amongst Secondary Students”, Oduntan said there is need for government to collaborate with parents, religious organisations, law enforcement agencies and schools in ridding the state of cultism and other social vices.
He argued that the failure of some parents to train their children is responsible for high moral decadence in the society.
Oduntan said, “It is the fault of the parents, you cannot blame the school for the high rate of cultism and other criminal activities among secondary school students. No school can exist in isolation.
“The moral value in this country has gone down, there are a lot of things wrong with this society. Some parents have neglected their responsibilities while some even support their children in these unwholesome activities.
“There need for us to do a lot of public enlightenment, particularly on parents because children spend more time with their parents than they do in school.
“There are three agents that are important in the life of a child, the home, religious organisations and the school. There is a need for collaborative effort of all the three agencies. The parents need to do a lot in training their children.
“The more information we give, the more enlightenment, the more awareness we create on the danger of cultism, the better for us as a society. The law enforcement agencies also have a role to play.”
