Abia Has Recorded Surge In School Enrollment–Nwosu

The chairman, Abia State Education Marshals and adviser to the state governor on basic and secondary Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu, says following the establishment of the marshals there had been a huge surge in enrollment in public schools in the state.

Nwosu, who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday on the successes of the marshals established about 16 months ago by the Alex Otti administration in Umuahia, the state capital, said, “Since the introduction of the compulsory free basic education policy and establishment of the marshals there has been a huge surge in school enrollment across the state.”

He said the primary concern of the marshals was to return out-of-school children to schools.

”That is why we take such children and enroll them in schools, the nearest school within their area. Then we reach out to their parents or guardians.

”When you want to introduce a policy, you don’t go straight with an iron fist. You start step by step to ensure that your goals and your aspirations are met.

”In some cases, we have also provided the children school uniforms and instructional materials, and we’ve achieved quite a whole lot of success in that area.

”We take the children to their parents or guardians to find out why they are not in school, because different circumstances reveal what and why they are not in school.

‎”On sensitisation, we’ve been going to the parks and marketplaces among others on public enlightenment to make sure that parents and guardians understand the need for their children to be in school.”

‎The state commissioner for information, Okey Kanu, had said the marshals were established to enforce the government’s newly introduced compulsory free basic education policy.

‎Kanu stated this while briefing the press on the outcome of the Executive Council meeting chaired by the governor at Government House, Umuahia, the state capital.

‎“The marshals will be assisted by the state’s harmonised task force and other necessary community stakeholders to enforce this critical policy,” he added.