http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/imo-to-prosecute-parents-who-withdraw-children-from-school/

OWERRI-Imo State Government, yesterday, vowed to prosecute any parent or guardian who prevents any child of school age from going to school.

Governor Rochas Okorocha read the riot act when he laid the foundation stone of the College of Advanced Technological Studies in Owerri.

He said: “This government will support the free education programme. It is now a punishable offence for anybody to deny education to any child of school age in the state.”

While lamenting that science education had gone down in the country, the governor wondered why most children are running away from science subjects.

Okorocha said: “One of the major decisions this administration has taken about this school is that instead of their paying school fees, government will be paying the students a monthly stipend.”.

The governor, who promised to establish similar schools in Orlu and Okigwe senatorial zones, announced automatic scholarship for a student of Government Technical College, Owerri, Master Marvis Onyeazolam, who produced a prototype helicopter.

Earlier, Commissioner for Education, Professor (Mrs.) Victoria Obasi, said the greatest gift a child can receive is education, which government has placed at the door steps of every child in the state.

She said: “There is need to recruit qualified teachers to staff the school. The category of teachers is scarce in the system. There is also the need to make the conditions of service for prospective teachers attractive.”