“Kogi Commences Free Meal, Uniforms for School Pupils” -SUBEB Boss Oshatimeyin
The Kogi State Chairman of the Universal Basic Education, Mrs Deborah Oshatimehin gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen in Lokoja.
Mrs Oshatimehin said plans are on to provide school uniforms and one meal a day for primary school pupils noting that the gesture is to promote education and to wipe out illiteracy in the society.
She disclosed that the Federal Government will sustain the initiative from primary one to three and will be assisted by the State Government from primary four to six.
Mrs Oshatimehin expressed hope that in no distant time, public schools will compete favourably with the private schools on terms of instructional materials and academic performance.
Speaking on teachers whose salaries have not been paid due to the screening exercise, the SUBEB’s Chairman appealed to them to have the interest of the state and the pupils at heart.
She explained that the time lost on industrial dispute can never be realised even if the demands of workers have been met.
Mrs Oshatimehin appealed to teachers to work towards bringing back the good old days saying most of the political office holders attended public schools.
“Government pay salaries to those who merited it. If the teachers embark on strike, the lost hours can never be regained even when paid up to date. We must sacrifice for the future of our children. It is like embarking on a surgical operation. The procedure might be painful but the outcome will usher in perfect health”. She said
She described the government’s decision to arrest the parents of pupils roaming the street during the school hours as a perfect strategy to discourage truancy and child labour, saying all hands must be on deck to sanitise the system.
Kogi State Government has reiterated its commitment to compliment the Federal Government’s agenda on free education for all primary school pupils.
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