Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Anambra State House of Assembly has passed a resolution to end the growing extortion of parents and guardians by public, private and mission schools in the state.
During Tuesday plenary, the Assembly called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to direct the Commissioner for Education to the schools in addressing the exorbitant cost of textbooks, school uniforms purchased from exclusively designated vendors and mandatory extramural classes.
The resolution was made following a motion moved to that effect by Sir Ikenna Ofodeme, the Deputy Majority Leader and member representing Ekwusigo Constituency.
Ofodeme submitted that the current practices in Anambra State primary and secondary schools where they use of textbooks as workbooks, uniform purchased 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.
The Member representing Ogbaru Constituency 1, Honourable Noble Igwe, his Anambra East counterpart, Barrister Obi Nweke, the member representing Nnewi North Constituency, Honourable Augustine Ike among other lawmakers, described the motion as life changing and shared same experiences of exorbitant costs of textbooks and school uniforms from same vendor provided by the school.
The Speaker, Right Honourable Somtochukwu Udeze read out the resolution, which received unanimous support.
