The Plateau State House of Assembly has placed a ban on compulsory yearly purchase of textbooks imposed on parents by schools.
The ban on the practice followed a motion moved by Hon. Joseph Bukar, representing Shendam Constituency, and seconded by Hon. Mathew Kwarpo Sylvanus of Mangu South, during plenary.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Bukar said forcing parents to buy new textbooks every academic session is exploitative and unfair.
His position which gained traction with other lawmakers, they stated that the ban of the practice is part of a wider measures to reduce the untold hardship families face.
The assembly declared that instead of the practice, recirculation of books among pupils and siblings should take place.
In conclusion, the House resolved that parents should be allowed the freedom to re-use textbooks and to purchase them from sources outside the schools.
The lawmakers also agreed that a four-year textbook cycle be adopted, where approved textbooks remain in use for at least four academic sessions, as practised in states like Edo and Imo.
