Date Published: 10/07/09
Education in Abia: Call for reflection
Having been observing the pathetic way and manner things have been going in the education sector of Abia State in recent times, we are compelled to comment and call for action in order to save the educational system from total collapse. The State Commissioner for information, culture and tourism and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor recently announced of development fees in schools and the requirement of three years tax by parents before their children can be registered in schools. The two government officials gave increase in the state’s internal revenue for development in the state as reason for the new policies.
We the Campaign for Democracy in Abia state stand to condemn the two policies and call on the government not to implement them. The policies violate the right of the child to education as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Chapter 2, section 18, paragraphs 1, 3a, b, c, d and e). If these policies are implemented many children would not have the opportunity of attending school from next academic session starting in September. This would lead to over 70% drop in the new intakes; which could amount to over 3,000,000 (three million) children in Abia State being denied education on account of their parents inability to pay three years tax and the development fee. This would mean a turnout of three million illiterates yearly in Abia State and about1.2 million in four years. Over 90% of this number would likely engage themselves in robbery, kidnapping, 419 and other vices. One can therefore imagine the kind of state Abia would be in terms of security..
The introduction of these policies by the government has exposed the government’s inability in the running of the education sector of the state. The Governor promised the people free education in his speech during his swearing –in ceremony. And now the same government came out to say that they discovered that many heads of schools ask pupils to pay all forms of fees ranging from PTA, examination, toilet to soap fees; declaring that the current measure is to stop such acts. Though they described such fees as unofficial fees, but the truth remains that the pupils have been paying to be educated. It had never been free and is still not free.
It would also be necessary to bring to the government’s notice that even our colonial master, Britain , did not think not talk of making such a policy as no payment of tax by parents, no education for their children. If they had done that, most of the educated people we have in our nation today would never have had the opportunity to attend school.
We are hundred percent in support of government’s drive for tax as no state can function without funds. But we are against such drive being used as an impediment to the education of the present and future generation of Abia State . We hereby call on the government of Abia State to reverse these policies and create a good atmosphere for Abians to be educated.
Thanks.
David Kalu
Chairman
Campaign for Democracy
Abia State
