PDP Gubernatorial Candidate Slams Governor Al-Makura Over Free Education By Rabiu Omaku, Lafia
Yusuf Muhammed Agabi The gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, has assured the people of Nasarawa state a qualitative and free tertiary and primary education if elected the governor of the state in next month governorship election., He gave the disclosure during a world press conference held in Keffi,The gubernatorial candidate described the ongoing free secondary and primary education of the All Progressives Congress as a complete gimmick, He asserted that the policy was a complete diversionary policy.
Promising to accord premium towards the rejuvenation of the sector, The governorship candidate said prominence would be given to education been the bedrock of every society ,Yusuf Agabi affirmed that topmost priority would be accorded to free and qualitative education from tertiary to primary education.
“The PDP if elected would beam her searchlight on qualitative free education, He berates the present government of not according importance to scholarship”, He however said the party if elected would ensure the upward review of bursary allowance.
The PDP candidate buttressed that the free education was a total flaw, saying parents pay more than before, He asserted he will ensure a conducive environment for education to thrive.
“The free education of the APC in Nasarawa state only exist in urban centre ,Stating that teachers in the state shun posting to rural areas due to lack of motivation flee their posting “Yusuf Agabi promised to accord special package to teachers posted in rural area to serve as motivation, He said.
The Nasarawa state commissioner of education, science and Technology in a related development has guarantee to step on toes of principals involved in shrill practices in spite of the free education policy of the present All Progressives Congress, Hon.Hussaini Abubakar open the can of worms over an attempt of extortion of N5,800 from a parent.
The commissioner declared that any principal trapped violating the free education policy would not scot free ,He stated this in an interview shortly after an unscheduled visit to Government Secondary School Arumangye in Doma Local Government of the state in company of the executive chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board.
“It was this afternoon that a parent called me on phone an informed me that his ward was force to pay N5,800 as school fees ,This foist the father to withdraw his daughter from the school, And instantly i swing into action and move straight to the school”.
Hon.Hussaini said his visit to the school became necessary due to the complaint raised by parent about financial excesses by principal in spite of the free education, He further opined they establish a violation of certain laws in their interaction with the Chief Inspectorate of Education and the principal.
“I invited the Chief Inspectorate of Education, her Deputy and the principal to the ministry “Adding that a committee would be constituted to exhumed the truth behind the allegation leveled against the principal., It could be recalled that the ward on the day of her admission her name was not included in the school registered as the principal said until N2,290 is paid in respect of the new PTA levy, Despite the twist of event as the state government slash the levy to N250 still her name was not included in the registered.
At the time of filling this report the name of the student was not in the schools register of the Junior Secondary School, Further investigation revealed that admission letters which goes for N200 was hike to N500, while students were force to purchase text books of core subjects., Further investigation unveiled that public schools are cesspit of corruption due to the inability of government to implement the free secondary and primary education of governor Al-Makura,Parents having their wards in public schools are in quandary due to the rising spate of charges made by principals, It was reliably gathered that 95 percent of principals disregard the free education policy.
The financial excesses range from the hike in admission letter which was sold for N200 now goes for N500 ,While principals on their side attributed the meagre money collected from student was to procured chalk ,duster, continue Assessment booklet, While other principals decried shortage of desk, blackboard as well overhead to run the affairs of their various schools.
Some of the preponderances of public schools was absence of up-to date school census conducted by the ministry of education, science and Technology, The worst of the free education policy was the increasing rate of maladroitness exhibited by employees under the ministry.
