By Admin
The Anambra State House of Assembly has called on the executive to direct the Commissioner for Education to engage the Public, Private and Mission Schools in addressing the exorbitant cost of textbooks, school uniforms purchase from exclusively designated vendors and mandatory extramural classes in the state.
In a motion sponsored by the Majority Leader and member representing Ekwusigo Constituency, Mr Ikenna Ofodeme during plenary in Awka, the law makers said the motion became necessary since education is a fundamental right, hence the need for every child to get equitable access to learning materials.
According to Mr Ofodeme, the current practices in Anambra State primary and secondary schools where textbooks are used as workbooks and uniform purchase from exclusively designated vendor place undue financial burdens on parents and guardians, particularly for families with multiple children in the same school or class.
He expressed worry that such trends are counter productive and that the new introduction of textbooks and workbooks in one single volume is gradually dwindling the good culture of use of school libraries and families creating library in their homes.
“Aware that this practice prevents families from utilizing textbooks across siblings, compelling them to purchase new copies for each child, regardless of financial ability, thereby deepening educational inequality.
“Observing that education policies in Anambra State should foster inclusivity, affordability and sustainability in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG4 -Quality Education);
“Futher worried that these practices increase educational expenses unnecessarily, making basic education less accessible for financially disadvantaged families;
“FURTHER OBSERVING that these practices negates the state’s efforts to alleviate financial pressures on parents in line with our commitment to affordable and accessible education for all.”
Other law makers including Mr Noble Igwe representing Ogbaru Constituency 1, Mr Augustine Ike representing Nnewi North , Mr Nonso Atuchukwu from Nnewi South 2 and Mr Jude Umennajiego of Onitsha South constituency 2, remarked that the motion was timely aimed at addressing the unwholesome practices in schools which have huge financial effects and attendant burden on parents in the face of current economic hardship in the country.
According to them, the practice amounts to sabotaging the current free education in the state initiated by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration from nursery to senior secondary schools.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze who presided over the plenary suggested that the 8th Assembly take steps to make the motion a law by reviewing existing relevant laws either by amendment or enacting a new one.
Mr Udeze asked Committees on Education and Judiciary to examine the laws establishing most of the schools to see where they can do an amendment or come up with a fresh bill to make it a mandatory law in the state.
“This is because it’s something that happens every day. Most times if my daughter is preparing for school, I would be wondering if she is going for a church service; because you keep on changing school uniform, one apiece for each day of the week. Five different School uniforms in a week including sports wear, all were bought from the school. We have to make it a law to address this problem,” the speaker concluded.
Present at the plenary were members of the Anambra State Children Parliament led by her speaker, Miss Iruoma Ekwunife from Awka South, who later contributed to motion raised above.
Two bills scaled through first reading on the floor of the House during plenary and there are the Anambra State Indigenous Medicine and Traditional Practices Bill 2024 as well as the Anambra State Bursary and Scholarship Bill 2024
