The Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) has warned schools against using schoolchildren to clear overgrown compounds.
The executive chairman of ASUBEB, Mrs. Lydia Onuoha, issued the warning during a media release on Sunday, warning that any school found flouting the directives would face severe consequences.
This follows the state government’s earlier decision to postpone school resumption date from September 16 to September 23 due to a public holiday.
“We expect that all necessary arrangements for assigning teachers to their respective classes should have been finalized by now.
“Come Monday, teaching and learning must commence without delay,” she stated.
The board also prohibited the use of schoolchildren for other laborious tasks.
“It is unacceptable for schools to use children as laborers. We strongly advise that schools should make proper arrangements to hire individuals or services to handle bush clearing and ensure a clean, safe environment for our pupils,” Mrs. Onuoha emphasized.
She said ASUBEB is taking the matter seriously, with plans to conduct random inspection visits to schools and Local Government Area (LGA) education authorities to ensure full compliance with the directive.
The boards chairman reaffirmed that education remains a top priority under Governor Alex Otti’s administration, and every effort will be made to create an environment that fosters learning and growth.
“Schools must be ready to welcome students on September 23rd, and we will not hesitate to act against those who fail to adhere to these guidelines,” Mrs. Onuoha warned.
She called on parents, guardians, and school authorities to prepare adequately for the new academic session.