The Bayelsa State Executive Council has threatened to arrest and prosecute any parent who refused to send his or her child to school to acquire formal education.
The decision came on the heels of the signing into law of the Compulsory Primary and Secondary Education Law by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday after the 89th State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, the Commissioner for Education, Jonathan Obuebite, said with the assent of the bill, every child of school age must be enrolled into the various model schools of the government.
Obuebite maintained that any child that is seen loitering or hawking on the streets during school hours will be picked up while their parents or guardian will be dealt with as provided in the new law.
He explained that the move was to emphasize the importance the government attaches to education, adding that with the huge investment made in that sector there is every need to ensure it does not become a waste.
“We have spent over 70 billion naira building and equipping our schools. Today we have quality infrastructure and facilities across our schools in every local government area. We feel it is important to have this law to protect that investment.
“The law will be fully implemented. We want to thank His Excellency for his assent and members of the assembly for passing it into law. Clearly the law is to demonstrate our commitment to education in the state”, Obuebite said.
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