Plateau Assembly has outlawed compulsory annual textbook purchases and wasteful nursery graduations, calling both practices exploitative.
The Plateau State House of Assembly has banned the compulsory purchase of new textbooks every academic session and condemned yearly graduation ceremonies in nursery and primary schools, describing both practices as exploitative.
The resolution followed a motion by Hon. Joseph Bukar (Shendam) and seconded by Hon. Mathew Kwarpo Sylvanus (Mangu South). Bukar lamented that compelling parents to buy new textbooks each year was “exploitative and unfair,” urging that books be re-circulated among siblings and pupils.
Lawmakers adopted a four-year textbook cycle, similar to Edo and Imo states, and encouraged schools to establish book banks and swap schemes. They also directed the Committee on Education to warn schools that non-compliance would attract sanctions.
On graduation ceremonies, the House said they impose “avoidable financial burdens on parents without adding academic value.”
Speaker Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel assured that the Assembly will continue to enact resolutions that ease hardship and foster development.