Non-Enrolment Of Children In School Now Criminal Offence – Governor Tells Parents

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has warned parents that the non-enrolment of their school-age children is now a criminal offence.

Otti noted that there would be a serious penalty for parents and guardians who refuse to enrol their children or wards of school age.

He made this known at Umuahia Township Stadium during the 2024 Children’s Day celebration, noting that the policy would be supported with legislation by the Abia State House of Assembly which would prescribe a penalty for offenders.

“From now on it is an offence for any child that is of school age not to be sent to school.

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“We are going to back that up with legislation and that legislation will prescribe penalties for any parent who refuses to bring out his child for education,” he said.

He also said scholarships would be created for children whose parents are financially disadvantaged, to ensure that every child of school age goes to school, promising that no child in the state would be marginalized or molested.

He further abolished payment of levies for special books by students of the school for the blind, Afaraukwu, and donated a bus to them.