Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has issued an executive order revoking education levies in primary and secondary schools in the State.
The
Executive order 001 of 2018 which was signed by the Governor in
Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, takes immediate effect.
The
signing of the executive order was witnessed by the leadership of the
Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT); Parents Teachers Association (PTA)
and students of some public primary and secondary schools.
The
executive order, according to the Governor, further demonstrates the
commitment of the administration to free, compulsory and
uninterrupted access to formal primary and secondary school education
throughout the state.
Dr
Fayemi said through free education, the State Government is set to
curtail the growing number of school drop out in primary and
secondary schools.
The
Governor said his administration considered it necessary to
effectively implement the educational reform at the earliest possible
time to safe education in the state.
He
said the order has made it unlawful for any government agency or
local authority to impose a levy or any fee for purposes of education
in any primary and secondary school in the state.
He
added that while schools are allowed to collect voluntary donations
from parents or old students associations, no student in the state
public schools should be denied access to classrooms for failing to
pay such voluntary contribution.
He
said while the universal basic education makes education free from
primary to the junior secondary schools, the current administration
in the state is making education free from primary as well as junior
and senior secondary schools.
“It
is a violation of the Universal Basic Education law to deny a child
the right to education simply because his or parents could not afford
the fees or levies being charged.”, the governor said. He also
directed the Ministry of Education to issue a circular to all schools
on the implementation of the order.
The
Governor reassured teachers in the state of regular payment of their
salaries and allowances.
He
also announced the approval of N200 million to take care of car and
housing loan requests by teachers, which were pending at the
Ministry.
He
directed the Permanent secretary in the Ministry to put in necessary
documents for the commencement of disbursement of the loan
on first come first served basis.
He
said only well motivated teachers can mould excellent students. He
pleaded with the teachers and other stakeholders in the education
sector to show more commitment to the progress of the students,
assuring them that his administration would provide necessary
support.
"As
we set to motivate the workers, we need you to also take the work a
lot more seriously because our children are our future.". He
said.
The
governor reiterated that the main focus of his administration was to
prioritise knowledge economy which is aimed at making the difference
between Ekiti and other states adding that government would be
compassionate and sensitive to the best ideals of our democracy and
development.
Responding,
the state NUT Chairman, Comrade Samuel Olugbesan, commended
government for scrapping the education levy which he said has
increased the number of school drop out in the state. He also thanked
the governor for the approval for the N200 million for teachers car
and housing loans.
Olugbesan
assured government that teachers would be more committed and
dedicated to their duties since government has decided to make their
welfare a top priority.
No comments:
Post a Comment