13th November, 2024
The Anambra State House of Assembly has taken a firm stance against practices perceived as exploitative in public, private, and mission schools.
On Tuesday, lawmakers passed a motion urging Governor Chukwuma Soludo to instruct the Commissioner for Education to address the high costs associated with school uniforms and textbooks in collaboration with these institutions.
The motion, spearheaded by Mr. Ikenna Ofodeme, representing the Ekwusigo constituency, and supported by 18 other members, emphasized that education is a fundamental right and that the rising cost of school materials should not hinder access to it.
Ofodeme, the Assembly’s Majority Leader, criticized the widespread practice of schools mandating specific textbooks and uniforms from designated vendors, which forces parents to make purchases at often inflated prices. This, he argued, creates financial strain, particularly for families with multiple children in the same school.
“Requiring parents to buy textbooks as workbooks, and mandating uniform purchases from exclusive vendors, is counterproductive,” said Ofodeme. “It erodes the value of school and home libraries and prevents families from reusing books for siblings, driving up costs unnecessarily.”
The motion highlighted that these practices are at odds with Anambra’s educational policy of inclusivity and affordability, undermining the goals of Sustainable Development Goal 4, which advocates for accessible quality education.
The legislators further voiced concerns about the impact of these practices on low-income families, making it increasingly challenging to afford basic education. The Assembly called for immediate action to alleviate this financial burden on parents.
The Speaker of the House, Dr. Somto Udeze, referred the issue to the Committees on Education for further review and to consider legal amendments that would support fairer practices in schools. The Assembly is set to revisit the matter on November 14.
