Abia State Governor Alex Otti Signs Landmark Educational Reforms Bill

By Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
Global Egberi Media International

Abia State has taken a bold and decisive step toward transforming its educational sector as Governor Alex Chioma Otti signed into law the long-awaited Educational Reforms Bill aimed at curbing exploitation, improving access, and making quality education more affordable for parents and guardians.

This landmark reform, which applies to both public and private schools in the state, comes as a welcome relief to families, particularly in the face of rising school costs and exploitative practices that have made education burdensome for many households.

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🔑 Key Highlights of the Abia Education Reforms Bill

Governor Otti’s new policy is sweeping and precise, addressing some of the biggest challenges faced by parents, students, and educators:

1️⃣ Affordable School Leaving Certificate

Henceforth, obtaining a school leaving certificate will cost only ₦2,000 — a move aimed at eliminating arbitrary and exorbitant charges by some schools.

2️⃣ No Switching of Schools in SS2

The new law states clearly that where a student attends SS2 is where they must sit for their WAEC/NECO examinations. This policy seeks to end last-minute school transfers done for undue advantage and ensures accountability in student performance.

3️⃣ Compulsory Government Centralized Exam (GCE)

No student will be allowed to register for WAEC/NECO without first passing a government-set standardized exam. This measure is designed to raise educational standards and ensure that only students who are academically prepared are allowed to sit for national examinations.

4️⃣ Reusable Textbooks Policy

Textbooks will now be treated as reusable educational assets. Students are prohibited from doing homework inside the textbooks to preserve them for future use. This allows families with multiple children to pass books down to younger siblings, drastically reducing the financial burden of buying new textbooks every term.

5️⃣ Ban on Extravagant Graduation Ceremonies

The state has also banned lavish and wasteful graduation ceremonies for nursery and primary school pupils. The governor emphasized that the focus should be on academic excellence rather than expensive parties that often place unnecessary financial strain on parents.

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🏫 Aimed at Ending Exploitation

Governor Otti, while signing the bill, stressed that these measures are not meant to punish schools but to protect parents from exploitative practices and to ensure that education remains a right, not a luxury.

“Our goal is to make education affordable and accessible to every child in Abia State without compromising quality. We cannot continue to allow a system that extorts parents under the guise of education,” the Governor stated.

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📌 Impact of the Reforms

Education stakeholders, parents, and civil society groups have widely applauded the move, describing it as timely, people-centered, and revolutionary.

Parents especially welcomed the textbook reuse policy, noting that it would save them tens of thousands of naira annually. Others commended the centralized exam approach, saying it will restore seriousness to senior secondary education and drastically improve student preparedness for national examinations.

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🌍 Setting the Pace for Other States

With this development, Abia State may have set a model for other Nigerian states to emulate. By enforcing accountability, reducing financial pressure on parents, and making education more accessible, the state is positioning itself as a leader in education reform and policy innovation.

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🏷️ Tags:

Abia State, Alex Otti, Education Reforms, WAEC, NECO, School Policies, Nigeria News

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