The Plateau State House of Assembly has outlawed the mandatory annual purchase of textbooks by parents, labeling the practice as exploitative and unfair.
The decision came after a motion by Hon. Joseph Bukar (Shendam Constituency), seconded by Hon. Mathew Kwarpo Sylvanus (Mangu South), who argued that forcing parents to buy new textbooks each academic session places an undue financial burden on families.
Lawmakers highlighted that textbooks can be reused among students, including siblings, to ease costs.
They advocated for a sustainable textbook policy, allowing parents to source books outside schools and introducing a four-year textbook cycle, mirroring practices in Edo and Imo states.
The Assembly also encouraged schools and Parent-Teacher Associations to create book banks and swap schemes to promote cost-effective textbook reuse.
Additionally, the House criticized the trend of yearly graduation ceremonies in nursery and primary schools, calling them “wasteful and unnecessary” due to their financial strain on parents without academic benefits.
To enforce these measures, the Committee on Education was tasked with summoning private school heads and Ministry of Education officials to ensure compliance, with warnings of severe sanctions for non-compliant schools.
The Assembly also addressed a motion by Rt. Hon. Gabriel Dewan (Pankshin North) to regulate unauthorized house agents, condemning their exorbitant and illegal charges.
The House resolved to introduce a licensing system and repeal the outdated Rent Edict to curb these practices.
Speaker Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel praised lawmakers for their efforts and reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to policies that alleviate burdens and foster development for Plateau residents.
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