"...
Jail term awaits Parents who refuse to send their children to school"
From next
year, the Rivers State Government would make the state government’s free
education policy compulsory to all children of school age in the state.
Rivers
State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi disclosed this at the weekend
during the closing ceremony of the Garden City Literary Festival at the Banquet
Hall of Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt.
According
to Governor Amaechi, parents would be required by law to send their children
and wards to both the state government new model primary and secondary schools
and other government primary and secondary schools that would be renovated and
made to meet required standards.
“We are
about to send to the State Assembly a bill that says it is a crime not to send
your children to school… The reason is when you say education is free and
compulsory, parents don’t take it seriously until you say they will go to jail
if they don't send their children and wards to school."
“We would
not collect fees so it becomes criminal if you don’t send your children to
school. From next year we would criminalize those who don’t take
their children or wards to school because we will try everything possible to
ensure that we provide infrastructure and facilities that will back our free
education”, he promised.
Governor
Amaechi further said his administration would set up an Agency for Quality
Assurance to ensure primary and secondary schools in the state would meet
expected standards.
“Let me
tell you the things that will happen very soon. Those of you who are
in government schools that are not up to standard we are trying to raise our
government schools to the standard that we require… When we get to
that standard, we will in the next few months set up the Agency for Quality
Assurance. If you don’t meet the standard, whether you are
government school or private school you will be closed down”.
“All
primary schools must have Information Communication Technology (ICT) including
the ones that belong to the Rivers State Government. We believe that
the same thing should apply to the secondary schools”.
From next
year, the Rivers State Government would make the state government’s free
education policy compulsory to all children of school age in the state.
Rivers
State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi disclosed this at the weekend
during the closing ceremony of the Garden City Literary Festival at the Banquet
Hall of Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt.
According
to Governor Amaechi, parents would be required by law to send their children
and wards to both the state government new model primary and secondary schools
and other government primary and secondary schools that would be renovated and
made to meet required standards.
“We are
about to send to the State Assembly a bill that says it is a crime not to send
your children to school… The reason is when you say education is free and
compulsory, parents don’t take it seriously until you say they will go to jail
if they don't send their children and wards to school."
“We would
not collect fees so it becomes criminal if you don’t send your children to
school. From next year we would criminalize those who don’t take
their children or wards to school because we will try everything possible to
ensure that we provide infrastructure and facilities that will back our free
education”, he promised.
Governor
Amaechi further said his administration would set up an Agency for Quality
Assurance to ensure primary and secondary schools in the state would meet
expected standards.
“Let me
tell you the things that will happen very soon. Those of you who are
in government schools that are not up to standard we are trying to raise our
government schools to the standard that we require… When we get to
that standard, we will in the next few months set up the Agency for Quality
Assurance. If you don’t meet the standard, whether you are
government school or private school you will be closed down”.
“All
primary schools must have Information Communication Technology (ICT) including
the ones that belong to the Rivers State Government. We believe that
the same thing should apply to the secondary schools”.
Governor
Amaechi later at the event presented certificate prizes to top three winners of
the essay competition for the Garden City Literary Festival.
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