By Ogemdi Ozoemenam
The Anambra State House of Assembly has called on Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo 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, Hon Ikenna Ofodeme and 18 others during plenary in Awka, the House said the motion becomes necessary since education is a fundamental right, hence the need for every child to get equitable access to learning materials.
Moving the motion, Hon Ofodeme regretted that current practices in Anambra State primary and secondary schools of using textbooks as workbooks, uniform purchase from exclusively designated vendor and mandatory extramural classes, place undue financial burdens on parents and guardians, particularly for families with multiple children in the same school or class.
He expressed worry that these trends are counterproductive and that the new introduction of textbooks/workbooks in one single volume especially is gradually killing 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);
“FURTHER 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.”
Many lawmakers Hon Noble Igwe (Ogbaru 1), Augustine Ike (Nnewi North), Golden Iloh (Ihiala 2), Nonso Atuchukwu (Nnewi South 2), Jude Umennajiego (Onitsha South 2) and Obi Nweke (Anambra East) supported the motion as it addressed unwholesome practices in schools that have huge financial effects and attendant burden on parents in the face of current economic hardship in the country. This they say, sabotage the current free education in the state being initiated by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s administration from nursary to senior secondary schools.
Responding, the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Somtochukwu Udeze appreciated the sponsor of the motion.
“As lawmakers, we have three responsibilities to our constituencies: lawmaking, representation and oversight. Am suggesting that we make this a law by reviewing existing relevant laws either by amendment or enacting another law.”
He asked Committees on Education and Judiciary to examine the laws establishing most of these schools to see where they can do an amendment or come with a fresh bill to make this 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, Rt Hon Iruoma Ekwunife from Awka South, who later contributed to motion raised above.
Also at plenary, two bills scaled through First Reading at the floor of the State Assembly. They are Anambra State Indigenous Medicine & Traditional Practices Bill 2024 and Anambra State Bursary & Scholarship Bill 2024.###
