Minister commissions Abia smart school as Otti warns against extortion of pupils

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has warned the management and teachers in Abia schools against extorting money from pupils or their parents.

The governor, who gave the warning in Ubakala, Umuahia South LGA, on Tuesday during the commissioning of Ogbor Central Smart School, said that any teacher or school staff found extorting pupils or their parents would face serious disciplinary action from his administration.

The governor also warned against the vandalism of school property by hoodlums and urged community leaders to protect the school facility and other government property in their area from being vandalised.

“No form of extortion, whether of pupils or their parents, shall be allowed in any of our schools, especially the smart schools.

“Anyone who runs foul of our zero-extortion and zero-corruption policy will face tough disciplinary action,” Otti warned.

He explained that his administration was engaged in providing a digital and conducive learning environment for pupils, noting that Smart Schools would be built across the local government areas of the state.

The governor, who called for deeper collaboration between Abia State and the Federal Government in education, said that any administration that fails to invest in education may not remain relevant in the future.

Speaking in Umuahia while commissioning the school project, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, commended Abia State Governor Alex Otti for prioritising quality education for children in the state.

The minister noted that the educational future of children must be programmed to align with the pace of global digital learning.