By Raphael Enwelu

Some parents in Awka metropolis have hailed the decision by the Federal Government to make the Federal Science and Technical Colleges in Nigeria tuition-free, saying the policy is a huge relief to them.

They also said that it is a sign that President Bola Tinubu is feeling the pulse of the masses as well as interested in enhancing the nation’s future through productivity.

Those who bared their minds in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday said that the policy emphasised science and technical education was a pathway towards achieving advancement of the country.

Mrs Amaechi Okolo, a mother whose child was admitted in one of the schools, said that the gesture would go a long way to step up productivity and reduce the problem of out-of-school syndrome.

According to her, education is sure to secure the future of the nation especially when the policy is well-thought out.

“I must commend the Federal Government under the leadership of President Tinubu because this underscores the point that he is really visionary and concerned about the nation’s future.

“With this kind of policy, President Tinubu is gradually easing the socio-economic responsibilities loads caused by oil subsidy removal on ordinary Nigerians,’’ she said.

Mr Obi Anazodo, who also praised the government for the policy, stressed the need for strict monitoring to ensure school management abides by the tuition-free directive.

Anazodo said that often times, government might conceive good policies, but those to implement them end up circumventing such policies.

“I will suggest that the Federal Government also come up with the measure to ensure that school management do not introduce all manner of levies that will end up affecting the good intention of President Tinubu.’’

He used the medium to equally advice beneficiaries of the policy to be of good conduct while in school and avoid anti-social conducts capable of derailing the target of government and their parents.

Anazodo also appealed that the admission process be based on merit and seamless to ensure the school produce best brains that would fit into the target of government to advancing productivities through technical and vocational education.

“It is important to say that mechanism for the admissions into these schools be merit-based in order to achieve government’s dream of enhancing productivity through technical education,’’ he said.

On her part Mrs Ngozi Nkpume, called on the states and local governments across the country to emulate the Federal Government by introducing policies that will benefit the masses.

“While I join my voice in applauding the Federal Government on this tuition-free policy, I am also calling on the other tiers of governments to emulate the Federal Government by coming up with programmes and policies that will make life much better for Nigerians.

“Through such measures, I believe the insecurity, crimes and rising unemployment rates in the country will reduce,’’ she said.

NAN recalls that the Federal Government had provided a hotline “07066739319’’ for parents to report any act of exploitation and sundry demands by any of the principals of all the FSTC nationwide. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu