Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Akwa Ibom Assembly Bans Sign-Out Celebrations, Orders Immediate Enforcement Across Schools

  By Asuquo Edem  The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for the immediate prohibition of all forms of sign-out celebrations in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the state, citing growing concerns over moral decadence, violence, substance abuse and other anti-social behaviours associated with the practice. The resolution followed the consideration of a Motion on Notice sponsored by the Member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno State Constituency, Hon. Udobia Friday Udo, during plenary. Leading debate on the motion, Hon. Udobia argued that while educational institutions are established to promote learning, discipline, moral values and responsible citizenship, the culture of sign-out celebrations by graduating students has increasingly degenerated into activities that undermine these ideals. According to him, what was once intended as a celebration of academic accomplishment has, in recent years, become synonymous with indecent dressin...
Post a Comment
Read more

AKHA Rejects Uduak Ekpoufot's Motion to Stop Dog-Meat Consumption

  By Asuquo Edem  Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly today rejected a motion brought before it by the member representing Etinan State Constituency, Hon. Uduak Ekpoufot. The motion presented before the House seeks to discontinue the consumption and sale of dog meat in Akwa Ibom State has failed to scale through the floor of the State House of Assembly after it received no seconder during plenary. Hon. M Ekpoufot, raised strong concerns over the inhumane slaughter of dogs, the unhygienic conditions involved, and the serious public-health risks associated with dog-meat consumption. He argued that the methods used to kill dogs were cruel, often involving strangulation, blunt-force trauma, or repeated blows, leading to severe animal suffering. The lawmaker further warned that poorly processed dog meat exposes consumers to dangerous pathogens such as rabies, salmonella, trichinella and other parasites, stressing that the practice has been banned in several countries due to safety co...
Post a Comment
Read more

A'Ibom Assembly Debunks Viral Claim of Bill Criminalising Relationships With Married Men

  By Asuquo Edem  The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has dismissed as false and misleading a viral social media report alleging plans to pass a bill criminalising sexual relationships with married men. In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Chairman House Committee on Information, Hon. Jerry Otu, the Assembly described the report—circulating widely on social media—as a fabrication with no legislative basis. The claim, reportedly shared via a Facebook post by one Obiavel Albert Abigo, alleged that a bill sponsored by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, sought to impose a 10-year jail term on women involved in such relationships, while prescribing a ₦2 million fine for men. The House categorically denied the existence of any such bill, stressing that it has neither received nor deliberated on legislation of that nature. It also clarified that the Deputy Governor has not sponsored any bill related to the claims. Condemning the report as a deliberate attempt ...
Post a Comment
Read more