Abakaliki — EBONYI State Government, yesterday,. debunked the allegation in some quarters that the state Ministry of Education was engaged in sharp practices in the production and distribution of identity cards to students in secondary schools across the state.

Briefing news men in his office, the state Commissioner for Education, Ndubuisi Chibueze-Agbo, described the allegations against the Ministry as mere propaganda.

He added that no amount of blackmail and unnecessary sentiments from those he described as detractors would deter him from sanitizing the education sector in the state.

He stated that the objectives behind the production of the ID cards were to reduce the rate of migration of students from government to private schools, especially during examination period, as well as eradicate examination malpractices among students in the state.

He said: "The purpose of the ID card production is to reduce or eradicate the migration of students from government to private schools especially during examination; to stop some private schools from excessive registration.

"When you go to some of our government schools especially those in the urban areas such act is prevalence.

"In all, the issues raised by some media outfits concerning the ID card and the SSCE registration fees are mere propaganda and conspiracy."