Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has said Early Childhood Care and Development Education (ECCDE) to Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) is free and compulsory for all school-age children in the state.
Soludo, during a visit to one of the schools, also announced a reduction of levies at the senior secondary level, pegging the limit at N5,000 for running cost for schools that would not be remitted to government’s coffers.
He said the move was in line with his vision of an all-inclusive education for the state.
Assuring that the machinery would be put in place to ensure effective implementation, he said his administration would sanction anyone who failed to comply with the declaration.
” Henceforth, no child within that education range will be charged school fees or any other fees to acquire education in the state.
“Children of school age will no longer be deprived of access to quality education; core community schools will be upgraded to smart schools in line with our vision of imparting skillful and sustainable education,” Soludo said.
But, residents of the state who spoke to The Nation said there was nothing to celebrate about the policy as it was not original to the current administration.
Others, however, described it as a welcome development, which should be embraced by stakeholders.
A parent, who preferred anonymity, said: “Soludo is not doing anything new. The free education policy has been there before he came on board. Other administrations before him offered free education to students without fanfare.
“He’s just looking for opportunities to advertise himself. Every six months this government will come with a policy that has been there for 10 years and you guys are clapping for him.”
A resident, Pascal Candle, while describing the policy as a big deceit and jamboree, urged the governor to explain its scope for accountability and transparency.
“The official declaration of the purported free and qualitative education for students in nursery and basic classes and attendant joy is not about “tuition fees” as this has long been made free by previous administrations, starting from Dr. Chris Ngige down to Governor Obiano,” he said.
He urged residents and Civil Society Organisations to step up vigilance and demand for basic accountability and transparency from the Soludo-led administration, especially on the free education declaration.
On its part, state Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) demanded clarification from Soludo on what his free education policy really meant to ambiguity.
Reacting through its secretary, Okelo Madukaife, the party sought to know whether Soludo’s referenced pronouncement meant there would be no fees in the public schools or that after the fees, there should be no additional charges, as well as who had approved the money to bridge the gap.
The statement partly reads: “Only a proper clarification and backed up by firm official action would point the direction that Soludo’s government wants to go.
“For lack of this badly-needed clarity, these remarks made amid understandable juvenile cheers have been interpreted in different ways by different sections of the media; some as abolishing of additional payments after school fees and others as removal of fees (emplacement of free education) from nursery school to junior secondary school.
“The government of Anambra State now needs to clarify the nature and extent of the governor’s new drive, which, according to the 19-month-old government, runs there should be no additional charges, and who has approved the monies to stand the gap.
“We restate that security, power/energy , local government elections, erosion checks and creative management of the impact of floods are top needs for Anambra State.”
A university teacher, Prof. Dennis Aribodor, however lauded the policy, noting that it would be a game changer in the development of the state if successfully implemented.
He said: “It’s good and quite commendable. It should, however, be matched with adequate budgetary provision to cater for needs of each public school both urban and rural, improvement in infrastructure and environment, teacher welfare, supervision and monitoring.
“If it is implemented successfully, it will be a game changer in the development of Anambra State.”
Leader of Anambra Civil Society Network (ACSONET) Prince Chris Azor hailed Soludo’s uncommon development strides, not just in education, but in social and economic sectors.
“He’s addressing development in a simultaneous manner.
Soludo also proposed to recruit another 3000 teachers to complement the 5000 previously engaged.
“Knowledge is fundamental to unlocking the potentials of every society. Ours is a state blessed with natural talents and intelligence. Skills- based knowledge is, therefore, a prerequisite for development.
“We enjoin Ndi Anambra to key into the Governor’s template and accord him all the necessary and sufficient support for desired result.
“We as civil society, will partner with the government, through adequate sensitisation of the citizens to take ownership of the projects.
“We will also, engage the government to ensure there’s a transparency and accountability standard in service delivery for democracy dividends,” he noted.
For Dr. Chuma-Odili Harris, a resident, the policy is praiseworthy, its enforcement is critical to ensuring compliance by concerned authorities.
His words: “It is a welcome development. He is enforcing the existing education policy in the state. His team of enforcers should go round the state and ensure strict compliance.
“Government is a continuum. It doesn’t matter who owns the concept, the good news here is that Soludo has the political will to make it work. Why didn’t his predecessors promote the policy? What happened?”
