It was on the strength of
this promise that he was elected Governor of the State. In a State literacy
level was high; nothing could have appealed to the Imo electorate than a free
education for millions of youths with burning passion for intellectual accomplishment.
So far, the programme has
taken off with jet speed following proactive steps taken by the present
Administration to implement it to the latter.
Few weeks ago, Governor
Okorocha at a colourful ceremony held at Ahiajoku centre, Owerri, doled out
cheques worth N1.9 billion naira to Imo indigenes in Imo State University. A breakdown of the cheques shows that each
student of IMSU received N100, 000, while those in College of Medicine,
Amaigbo, received N80, 000.
However, the pomp and
pageantry which trailed the ceremony has been dampened by recent reports that
the free education programme for Imo undergraduates is a hoax, a tool designed
to score cheap political points by the Okorocha Administration.
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, the Action Congress
of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in the 2011 elections in the State
fired the first salvo. He said he wonders where the free education programme is
in the State as he pays levies and fees for his four relatives in the Imo State
University, Owerri.
Araraume said it is
unfortunate that Imolites were deceived to believe hook, line and sinker, that
free education is the creation of the Okorocha Administration, saying the
Federal Government runs a free education programme from Primary schools to JSS
3
Some students of IMSU who
spoke to this blog on condition of
anonymity corroborated the Senator’s views saying nothing, in the mould of payments has
changed in the school, as they pay exorbitant fees to study in State owned tertiary institutions.
It was learnt that despite
the abolition of school fees, new entrants in the school are charged a fee of
N70, 000 as acceptance fee.
This is outside payments
made for other levies in the Institution.
Some students complained that the cheques doled out are not cashable in
most banks in the State, except that of a popular bank where Okorocha’s
Commissioner of Finance, Chike Okafor, once served as the General Manager. It
was gathered on good authority that the banks charge N20, 000 on each of the
cheques brought forth by the students.
There was no independent
confirmation of these claims as the bank authorities refused to speak to this blog when inquires were made.
It was not ascertained as
press time if the change at the helm of affairs of IMSU is in line with new
policy of the State Government geared towards actualizing the free education
programme in the institution.
Prof B.E.B Nwoke, was last
week removed as the Vice Chancellor of the University and replaced with former
President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Anwuzie. Nwoke was said to have come under fire for
his refusal to succumb to what a source described as unconventional practices
introduced by the Okorocha Administration in the institution.
Aside the state owned
university, there is also furore over the free education programme in primary
and post primary schools in the State. The introduction of single uniforms for
secondary school students has been faulted. Analysts say it is an unwise move
as its disadvantages outweighs its advantages. This is coming against the
backdrop of criticisms from a wide segment of the populace that uniforms,
sandals and dusters imported from China are inferior and of low quality.
Mr. John Iweala, an
educationist in the State sharply criticized this measure saying it is
preposterous for the State Government to import such uniforms abroad when there
are Imolites that can manufacture them locally.
‘What is the rationale
behind the importation of school uniforms? It is absurd and against the grain
of commonsense. How does the State Government intend to encourage local
entrepreneurs in the State when it has to spend tax payers money on importing
chalks and dusters’ he said.
On the part of the State Government, the negative
reports emanating about the free education programme in the State is the
imagination of enemies of Government as the programme is on course.
And to demonstrate its
seriousness towards the programme, it has embarked on massive construction of
model schools in the State such as the one cited along Wethedral road,
Owerri. The Government has severally
claimed that similar ultra modern schools with state of the art equipments are
ongoing in the 27 local Governments in the State.
Recently, Governor Okorocha
declared November 29 each year as free education day in Imo, in addition to
reduction of 50% in fees payable by non indigenous students in the State.
Speaking to the leadership
of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and student Union
Governments (SUG) of all tertiary institutions in the State who visited him at
Government House, Owerri, Okorocha explained that his gesture is to compliment
access to free and qualitative education enjoyed by Imo Students.
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