The Anambra State House of Assembly raised concerns on Tuesday regarding the prohibitive costs of textbooks and school uniforms in the state, stating these expenses undermine the free education policy and place undue financial strain on low-income families. Despite the free education initiative, Assembly members argued that rising prices for essential school items make it difficult for the poorest students to fully benefit from the policy. Lawmakers also highlighted the high cost of extramural classes organized by teachers, which they said detracts from the policy’s goal of accessibility.

During the plenary session in Awka, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme, Majority Leader and representative for Ekwusigo constituency, sponsored a motion urging Governor Chukwuma Soludo to instruct the Commissioner for Education to engage with public, private, and mission schools to address these escalating expenses. Ofodeme, along with 18 other members, argued that education should be a basic right for all children, emphasizing the need for affordable access to essential learning materials.

Ofodeme expressed concerns over the practice of using textbooks as workbooks in primary and secondary schools, which prevents families from reusing textbooks across siblings, leading to additional costs for parents. He criticized mandatory uniform purchases from exclusive vendors and costly extramural classes, which, he said, disproportionately impact low-income families, especially those with multiple children in school. According to Ofodeme, these practices counteract the goals of affordability and inclusivity set by the state and align poorly with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG4) on quality education.

The motion received widespread support within the Assembly. Speaker Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze commended the motion, emphasizing the Assembly’s role in lawmaking, representation, and oversight, and suggested a potential legislative review to address these challenges. He directed the Committees on Education and Judiciary to examine existing laws governing educational expenses in order to foster policies that would better support low-income families and make free education truly accessible for all.