Borno to prosecute parents who fail to send children to school

The Borno State Government on Monday said it would prosecute parents who fail to enroll their children and wards in schools.
Alhaji Kaka-Shehu Lawan, the Bono State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, said: “Any parent either out of ignorance or willingly refuses to send his child to school will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Lawan told the News Agency of Nigeria in Maiduguri that government was already offering parents several incentives to encourage them to send their children to schools.
The commissioner noted that it was lamentable that some parents still refused to send their children to school in spite of the incentives.
Kawan said: “The government has directed the Borno State Basic Education Board to mobilise all children of school age to be enrolled in schools.
“It has also invested heavily in constructing new schools and renovating those vandalised by Boko Haram terrorists in the course of the insurgency, so as to provide conducive atmosphere for learning.”
Lawan said that government had also introduced free school bus services and other incentives to attract children back to schools.
He said: “Government has procured 150 luxury buses to provide free ride to school children in Maiduguri and communities liberated from the terrorists by the military.
“It has also introduced the provision of free meals, school uniform and books in schools as part of the incentives to retain students in schools.
“The governor is also looking at the possibilities of introducing cash incentives to parents to ensure retention of children in schools.”