Abia State government has announced free and compulsory education for all children in the state irrespective of their state of origin.
The free education, which will commence by January 2025, will run from primary one to Junior Secondary School three in all public schools.
This move builds upon the foundation laid by former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, who introduced free education during his tenure from 1999 to 2007.
Kalu’s efforts had a significant impact on the state’s education sector, with the establishment of farm settlements, agricultural plantations, and infrastructure development.
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Under the new policy, parents and guardians who fail to enroll their children in school will face prosecution, as mandated by the Abia Child’s Rights Law 2006.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing the press after the State Executive Council meeting.
He said that parents and guardians who flouted the new policy would face prosecution.
“In line with the Abia Child’s Rights Law 2006, it’s now an offence for parents not to send their children or wards to school because the Government has made education free and compulsory,” Kanu warned.
The policy, according to him, is pursuant to the quest by the Governor Alex Otti-led administration, to deliver quality and affordable education to the state.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, has also been instrumental in promoting education in the state, facilitating the reconstruction of over 50 schools in the Abia North Senatorial District. His efforts have been praised by community leaders, who describe him as a “promise keeper”.
This move is a significant step towards ensuring that every child in Abia State has access to quality education, paving the way for a brighter future.
