The Bayelsa State Government has vowed to arrest and prosecute any parent who refuses to allow his or her child to acquire formal education. The decision came on the heels of the signing into law of the Compulsory Primary and Secondary Education Law by Governor Seriake Dickson.
Addressing journalists after a meeting by the State Executive Council, the Commissioner for Education, Jonathan Obuebite, said that with the signing of the bill into law, every child of school age must be enrolled in any of the various model schools in the state.
Obuebite warned that the parents or guardians of any child seen loitering or hawking during school hours would be dealt with as provided in the new law. He said the move was meant to emphasise the importance, which the state government attached to the education of the people, especially the youth.
Also, noting that there was a need to justify government’s huge investment in the education sector, he added, “We have spent over N70 bn building and equipping our schools. Today, we have quality infrastructure and facilities across our schools in every local government area. We feel it is important to have this law to protect that investment. “The law will be fully implemented. We want to thank Governor Dickson for his assent and members of the State Assembly for passing it into law.
