Abia State Government, through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has kicked against schools recommending four different textbooks for one subject, which financially drains parents.
The government charged publishers to separate the workbook from the textbooks supplied to schools in the State, to make it useful for other pupils.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, announced this during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by his Ministry.
Ubochi reminded them that Governor Alex Otti declared free and compulsory education in primary and basic secondary schools.
He emphasized the need for PSLAT examination for Primary 6, compulsory BECE examination for JSS 3, and mandatory examination for SS2 before registering for WAEC, harping on the need to acquire such certificates as directed by the government.
Speaking further, the Commissioner emphasized that the State government frowns at children hawking or loitering during school hours, noting that Education Marshals have been directed to capture parents and guardians of defaulters, and advised them to enroll children in schools.
Ubochi assured stakeholders that certain considerations will be made to fill the gaps in areas needed for the next teachers’ recruitment.
The meeting was attended by representatives from WAEC, NECO, ANCOPPS, NUT, PTA, Publishers, LGA Education Secretaries, NASU, top officials of the Ministry of Education, among others.
