The Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has declared free education in all primary and secondary schools with effect from the next academic session.
OsunDailyNG reports that the governor stated that this is to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit known as petrol.
This was made known in a statement on Friday by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Emmanuel Bello.
Kefas’s decision is coming barely 48 hours after announcing the reduction of university school fees by 50 per cent to cushion the current hardship in the country.
Speaking at the Ebenezer Primary School in Wukari as part of his assessment tour, he said primary and secondary education in Taraba State would be free starting from the next academic session.
According to him, it was the responsibility of the government to bear the expenses and students should not be subjected to any fees.
He said that apart from fulfilling a campaign promise, the hardship occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy has made the move imperative.
Recall that Kefas, on Wednesday during his visit to the Taraba State University in Jalingo, announced the removal of school fees in the university.
The Governor said he had since declared a state of emergency in the education sector and was also committed to free education at the primary and secondary school levels.
“Some parents said the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy has made payments of school fees difficult. They said the slash has raised their hopes,” he had said.
