Abia Criminalises Out-of-School Syndrome

*Says poverty not excuse to deny children basic education

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

To upscale literacy level, the Abia State Government has now made it a criminal offence for parents to deny their children or wards the opportunity of getting basic education.
The Commissioner for Education, Prince Okey Kanu, said that the decision was taken by the State Executive Council at its meeting on Monday, adding that the policy implementation would take effect from January 1, 2025.
“In line with the Abia State Child’s Law 2006, it will now be an offence for parents not to send their children and wards to school in Abia State,” he said.
Kanu stated that the compulsory acquisition of basic education was part of the ongoing reforms in the educational sector, adding that the policy was reflective of the high premium the present administration has placed on education.
Governor Alex Otti had already declared free and compulsory basic education in Abia, hence government holds the view that poverty can no longer be used as an excuse  by parents to raise children that would become illiterates.
He urged parents to take full advantage of the tuition-free policy in the basic level of education and send their children and wards to school to avoid being prosecuted in line with the Abia State Child Law 2006.
“This policy is in fulfilment of what the educational sector represents for this government,” Kanu said, adding that at the inception of the administration, a state of emergency was declared in the educational sector”.
On the revocation of the multi-campus status of the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), the commissioner insisted that the directive on relocation of the Umuahia campus of the university is irreversible.
“Government’s position about the order remains unshakable because the decision, in the first place, was taken in the overall interest and well-being of the university,” he said.
While maintaining that “the state government will implement this policy to the letter”, Kanu, however, said that government would keep its ears open being “a listening government that conducts state affairs with human face”.
He assured Abians that government would engage with all affected stakeholders in order “to allay their fears and anxieties if any about the relocation order”.