Free, Compulsory Education Policy: AKHA Moves To Give Legal Backing

In its avowed determination to give the Free and Compulsory Education the legal backing it deserves, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has moved to establish a law for the provision of free tuition and examination fees in public schools in the state to aid sustainability.

This follows a "Bill For a Law to Provide For Free Tuition and Examination Fees in Public Primary and Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom State and for Related Matters," sponsored by the Leader of the House, Sir Udo Kierian Akpan (member for Oruk Anam).

The House Leader, while leading the debate for the Bill to be read the second time on Thursday during the plenary, told the House that the Bill sought to provide free and compulsory formal education, including the payment of examination fees to every Akwa Ibom child from primary to secondary school levels. 

He pointed out that the Bill, when passed into law, shall ensure quality education in line with the standards and norms of high scholarly learning. 

Under the law, the Assemblyman said a child or parent shall not be liable to pay any kind of fee or charges in any public school, while any school or person who contravenes the law shall be liable to disciplinary actions in line with the Public Service Rules applicable in the State Public Service. 

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey while responding, commended Sir Akpan for the Bill, referred it to the House Committee on Education for in-depth studies and to report back to the House within one month. 

At Plenary also, the House also  received a Motion on Urgent Need to Curb the Rising Menace of Child Theft in Akwa Ibom State, sponsored by the Member representing Uyo State Constituency, Hon. Anietie Eka; the Abysmal Performance of the Akwa Ibom State Fire Fighting Service Unit in Oron Local Government Area, sponsored by Member representing Oron/Udung Uko, Rt. Hon. Effiong Bassey, and Relocation of the Dump site at the Uyo Village Road, sponsored by the Member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Hon. (Barr.) Otobong Bob. 

Similarly, a Bill for a Law to Establish the Akwa Ibom State Sports Development Fund sponsored by the Member representing ONNA State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Nse Essien, a Bill for a Law to Regulate the Business of Scrap Metal Dealers and Similar Goods and for other Matters Connected thereto, sponsored by the Member representing Ibesikpo State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko and a Bill for a Law to Improve Security through a Functional Community Policing Framework, Regulate Community Policing and Provide for the Registration of Community Vigilante Groups in Akwa Ibom State and Connected Purposes, all passed through First Reading and were committed to relevant Committees for in-depth studies. 

Meanwhile, the House has adjourned its plenary to Tuesday, 28th January, 2020 at 10am.