Abia State Declares Basic Education Free and Mandatory For All

“Our goal in Abia State is to foster an environment where everyone can fully enjoy life” – Mrs. Naomi Thompson

The Abia State government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that basic education in public schools remains both free and compulsory, warning that any individual found extorting money from parents for pupil enrollment will face severe legal consequences.

This announcement was made by Lady Lydia Onuoha, the Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), during an event focused on enrolling 29 out-of-school children at Community Primary School in Umuala-Nsulu, Isialangwa North LGA.

The event, which also marked the launch of the Education Trust Fund intended to support these pupils, was facilitated by the non-governmental organization Caritas Nigeria, in partnership with the state Ministries of Education, Women Affairs, ASUBEB, and the Justice Development and Peace Commission.

Onuoha, represented by ASUBEB director Mrs. Nnenna Okenwa, highlighted that Governor Alex Otti’s administration is actively working on plans to enhance public schools to elevate them to a standard comparable with the top private institutions in the state.

“Governor Otti is committed to ensuring basic education is free and compulsory. Any instance where a child is asked to pay money to attend school will not be tolerated by the government,” she stated. Onuoha also mentioned that significant efforts are underway to renovate schools, ensuring that soon public educational facilities in Abia State will be unrecognizable due to the improvements. Plans for enhancing school security, including fencing and necessary teaching resources, are also on the agenda.

Mrs. Naomi Thompson, a Technical Officer with Caritas Nigeria, underscored the NGO’s 14-year commitment to partnering with schools and community stakeholders via a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at reintegrating out-of-school children into the education system.

“Our goal in Abia State is to foster an environment where everyone can fully enjoy life. The Hopespring Development Initiative is collaborating with Caritas Nigeria to cover the primary school leaving certificate examination fees for pupils at Umuola Community Primary School as a token of appreciation for their dedication and efforts,” she said.

Additionally, Mr. Godspower Ahuama, Chairman of the School Management Committee, urged the government and affluent individuals to focus on addressing the issues faced by underprivileged children and to improve the rundown infrastructure and teacher shortages in public schools.

The community’s traditional ruler, Eze Patrick Anaba, along with the school’s headmistress, Mrs. Nwakpa Nwolorondu, and the pupils’ parents expressed their gratitude for the initiative and pledged to contribute materials to support the students from their local government area.