Abia Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, says that from March 1, Abia education marshals, an education task force, will hunt pupils not in school during school hours.
Mr Ubochi disclosed this on Tuesday while taking questions from reporters after a press conference ahead of the Abia schools transformation programme launching on February 26.
He said the programme’s theme is “AbiaFIRST”, which stands for “Fostering Innovation and Reform for School Transformation” in the state.
The commissioner said pupils not found in school during school hours would be arrested and used to apprehend their parents, who would be punished for not sending them to school.
According to him, the government would enforce school attendance by pupils because it has invested in giving them a better education.
Mr Ubochi said the planned transformation of Abia schools through innovation would begin with 221 out of 1,600 schools.
“The transformation is real, but the journey of a thousand miles starts with a step. We plan to reach out to all the schools that have challenges at the same time, but we have to start somewhere.
“We have marked out 221 schools, 10 primary schools and five secondary schools from each of the 17 local government areas,” he said.
He said the government, recognising the challenge vandalism posed to public schools, engaged communities to assist in securing their schools.
Mr Ubochi said schools with minor infrastructure challenges would be fixed before the rains set in fully.
He said that pursuant to Governor Alex Otti’s free education policy, the principals and head teachers received imprest funds of N100,000 and N80,000 monthly.
Mr Ubochi said the improved welfare of teachers was part of the holistic project “Fostering Innovation and Reform for School Transformation”.
The commissioner noted that the extension of teachers’ service year and increment of their salaries were currently being implemented.
He, however, stressed that only physically fit teachers who could deliver as expected would be given the extension.
