In a decisive move to curb child hawking and enforce compulsory education, the Abia State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has commenced full implementation of the Education Marshal initiative.
The programme is aimed at identifying and apprehending school-age children found trading on the streets during official school hours.
The operation, which began today across the three senatorial zones—Abia North, Abia Central, and Abia South—saw security personnel actively patrolling various communities from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The exercise is expected to continue daily while schools are in session.
This development follows a recent directive from the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, who had earlier reiterated the state’s commitment to ensuring every child receives basic education.
Governor Otti reminded parents of the free education policy in the state, which covers tuition up to junior secondary school level, and warned that parents who fail to send their children to school would face legal consequences under the Abia State Children’s Law of 2006.
“There is no reason whatsoever why any child should be found on the streets during school hours,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education.
“Education is free in Abia State up to JSS 3. We will not tolerate negligence from parents or guardians.”
The Education Marshal programme is part of the broader reforms currently underway in the state’s education sector.
Officials say the initiative not only reinforces the right of every child to education but also aims to eliminate the socio-economic factors that have historically kept children out of school.
As enforcement intensifies, the government is urging parents and guardians to cooperate fully and ensure their children attend school regularly.