Abia to enforce free basic education in 2025

The Abia State Government will begin implementing compulsory free education for primary schools and Junior Secondary Schools 1–3 in 2025, as approved by Governor Alex Otti.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, disclosed this in Umuahia on Friday when his ministry received Abia State students who performed exceptionally well in the recently concluded 27th National Junior Engineers, Technicians, and Scientists, JETS, competition held in Abuja.

He explained that free education is part of Governor Alex Otti’s efforts to transform the education sector in the state.

Ubochi highlighted that the JETS competition provided a platform for students to showcase their ingenuity and creativity, challenging young minds to find innovative solutions to complex problems while enhancing their academic potential.

In their remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu, and the Executive Board Chairman of ASUBEB, Mrs Lydia Onuoha, attributed the remarkable achievements of the students to the state government’s special interest in the education sector.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Abia, Friday Madu, commended the students for their excellent performance at the national JETS competition.

The young scholars were presented with learning equipment, while their teachers received cash rewards from the state government.