The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Anambra State Branch, has commended the Soludo administration for its educational reforms, warning, however, that these gains will be defeated “if the State Government fails to call Mission and private school proprietors to order over outrageous school fees.”

In a statement issued recently in Awka and signed by Chairman, Evangelist Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, and Secretary, Comrade Chidi Mbah, Anambra CLO said it has received numerous complaints from parents.

The group cited a case of an indigent widow whose child was asked to pay over N700,000 to enter SSS1, while new students are charged between N800,000 and N1,000,000, “which most the parents cannot afford, thereby defeating the good intention of government in handing of schools to Missions. When you ask them that Mr Governor has approved free education, you received agonizing and insultive response ‘take your child to government school’. This is happening in schools that receive government salaries and funding.”

"Is Mission education now law unto itself? Why does government pay salaries and allowances without regulatory power?" CLO asked.

It urged Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to direct the Commissioner for Education to carry out impromptu inspections and regulatory assessments of Mission and Private schools, and provide an immediate and permanent solution. In the immutable assertion of late Emperor Haile Selassie, "Inactions of those who should have known better and silence of voice of justice when it matters most has given evil power to triumph" CLO thereby seek immediate and urgent intervention of His Excellency to restore people's confidence in ability of government to safeguard and protect her interest, ensure affordable and accessible education for citizens.

Update news