The Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO) in Anambra State has expressed its praise for Governor Charles Soludo’s recent decision to abolish fees and levies in public primary and junior secondary schools across the state. In a statement jointly issued by the group’s state Chairman, Vincent Ezekwueme, and Secretary, Chidi Mbah, the CLO commended Governor Soludo for addressing the concerns raised by students and parents regarding the escalating cost of education in the state and the country as a whole.
The CLO’s commendation comes on the heels of widespread criticism of some mission schools charging exorbitant school fees, with many attributing this to the removal of fuel subsidies. Critics argue that these charges undermine the government’s efforts to return schools to the missions.
In light of this, the CLO emphasized the need for inclusive policies that extend to mission schools, which the government has entrusted to the churches. The organization highlighted the fact that government funds are used to pay teachers and staff in these schools, and therefore, mission and private schools should be called to order and provided with operational guidelines to ensure the success of the government’s educational initiatives.
To ensure the effective implementation of the policy, the CLO advised Governor Soludo to establish a monitoring committee. This committee would be responsible for overseeing compliance with the directive, as well as taking necessary action against any school heads found flouting the governor’s orders.
By abolishing school fees and levies, Governor Soludo has struck a decisive blow towards providing accessible and affordable education for the children of Anambra State. The CLO’s commendation serves as recognition of the governor’s commitment to addressing the pressing issue of increasing educational costs and the invaluable impact such a policy will have on the state’s educational landscape.
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