The Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC) has launched the “Catch-Them-And-Send-To-School-Free” sensitization initiative, earning widespread praise for its proactive approach to combating child hawking and promoting education.
At Eke Nibo market, traders and customers commended the exercise as officials led by PPSSC Chairman, Professor Nkechi Ikediugwu, accompanied by security agents, identified and removed children engaged in hawking to enroll them in school.
Some of the children, who should have been in secondary school, were taken to Ezeike High School, Nibo, while others of primary school age were enrolled at Obinwanne Basic School, Ifite Nibo.
Eyewitnesses, including Salome Okeke, Jideofor Ekemezie, and Nnagozie Nwugo, expressed concern over the persistence of child hawking despite the availability of free education from nursery to secondary school provided by the government.
In contrast, children such as Favour Kpale, Ezinne Nwika, and Happiness Akabueze cited financial constraints as the reason for their absence from school.
Addressing the issue, Professor Ikediugwu reaffirmed that there is no excuse for any child to be out of school, as the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo has made education free. She urged parents and guardians to prioritize education for every child under their care, emphasizing that “without education, a child is nothing.”
Dr. Uche Okeke, PPSSC Board Member for Awka Educational Zone, and Ms. Vera Atigwe, Supervisor Councillor for Education in Awka South Local Government Area, lauded the initiative, highlighting its alignment with Governor Soludo’s vision of ensuring quality education for all children.
The sensitization exercise was extended to parts of the Nibo and Amawbia communities, reinforcing the government’s commitment to eradicating barriers to education.
