Association of Community Based School Owners of Nigeria (ACOBSON) has appealed to Anambra state government to save private schools in the state from high taxation.
Anambra state Coordinator, Lady Chukwuani Ogochukwu, made the appeal at Nkwelle Ezunnaka, Oyi council Area of the state at the
inauguration of the state chapter and executive members by the National chairman, Mr Tony Ebiziem.
She also lamented incessant harassment by ‘faceless’ agents who always invade the school premises to demand for levies.
She said, “We call on the state government and Ministry of education to look into their plight. We are ready to partner with with governments at all levels to sustain educational policies and programes.
“We are ready to work, to salvage the educational system and reposition the sector especially in Anambra state. Our target is to mobilize over 1000 school owners, 5000 teachers and 10,000 parents to achieve results and advance education to the next level in Anambra.”
Ogochukwu also lamented what it termed stagnation in the educational sector, accusing governments and political leaders of not carrying stakeholders, including private school owners, teachers, parents and puplis along in making educational policies.
She expressed concern over the non-recognition of private schools in the state, attributing it to their inability to contribute to decisions making in the sector.
“We’ve put in place proactive mandate for better and level playing ground for teaching and learning for the children. We assure aggressive training and retraining of members as well as teachers on the collaboration of 21st century standard of schools and responsibilities,” she added.
National chairman, ACOBSON, Mr Tony Ebiziem lamented the woes in the education sector, regretting the unseriousneess government and other concerned authorities attached to education.
He said, “There is no adequate planning, infrastructures are lacking in schools and colleges, teachers are owed several months salaries in many states.
“There is no state where private school proprietors are not having issues with government over high taxation.
Describing education as seed children would reap tomorrow, Ebiziem charged proprietors, teachers and parents to join in nuturing the seed aimed at helping to tackle the challenges in education.
He extolled the virtues of school proprietors, describing them as sources of light and development in our society as well as producing future leaders.
He disclosed that ACOBSON, would also be inaugurated in other 23 states including Rivers, Akwa Ibom among others, and urged the state executive to work for education uplifmetnt in Anambra.
A member of the state executive, Hon Valentine Emeka Nwaigbo lamented the harassment and intimidation by people who claim to be government agents demanding for Internally Gererated Revenue.
“Government has not done anything to develop private schools, especially in sports. For past 8 years we have been paying sport levies without any sports activities”, he said.
