David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has abolished payment of fees and other levies in all government schools in the state.
Soludo, said the abolishment applies to pupils from nursery, primary and junior secondary schools.
He made the remark yesterday, when he visited Premier Primary School, Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area and Ado Girls Secondary School in Onitsha.
He warned that no teacher must demand money in any guise from pupils in government schools, stressing that anyone caught doing so would be sanctioned.
Though Anambra has been maintaining tuition free schools, but in the state have witnessed massive imposition of levies on parents.
While speaking, Soludo said: “From today as I make this pronouncement, no child in Anambra, from nursery to primary, up to junior secondary 3 is expected to pay anything.
“The constitution of Nigeria requires government in Nigeria to as soon as it is practicable, offer free primary or secondary education.
“Among the four categories of schools in the state, government-run public schools are the least in terms of infrastructure and otherwise, but by this announcement, my administration will begin massive revolution to bring out public education to be a model in the education sector.
“Government will be investing and rebuilding infrastructure in the schools in the coming weeks and months. We will roll-out government full agenda for the education sector in the coming days.
“This administration will begin to use education as an opportunity equaliser. Education is not just the future, but the present. The big agenda is to mainstream education as the foundation,” Soludo explained.
