Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Commissioner for Education, Abia State, Professor Uche Eme Uche, has disclosed that the State Government would soon embark on aggressive rehabilitation of public schools across the state.
This, according to her is part of the on-going efforts by the Gov. Alex Otti-led administration to transform the critical education sector.
The Commissioner who gave the hint while interacting with the leaderships of the Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria, (APSHON); All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS); and National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Abia State chapter, in her office, said the education sector would witness a rapid transformation in the months ahead.
She said that Government would soon launch a “Reclaim Our Schools Initiative where all rehabilitated public schools will be handed over to the host communities to ensure effective management and security of the structures.”
Prof. Uche who said that the Governor Alex Otti-led Government was poised to restore the lost glory of education in the state, re-stated Government’s zero tolerance for proliferation of sub-standard schools in the state.
According to her, Otti is determined to rehabilitate dilapidated structures in public schools in the state and equally sustain training and re-training of teachers.
Professor Uche who stressed “Government’s readiness to ensure that Abia children receive functional education in a conducive environment,” added that “henceforth, the welfare of teachers will be prioritised.”
The Commissioner further hinted that “there will be a drastic review and re-accreditation of private schools in the state to meet established standards.”
This according to her, is geared towards making the education sector in the state more qualitative.
According to a release by the Director of Information Ministry of Education, Ugochi Ihediwa, the measure is not aimed at witch-hunting anybody but was necessitated by the compelling need to upgrade.
Responding, the NAPPS Chairman, Pastor Joseph Okowu; his ANCOPSS counterpart, Chief Matthew Uzuegbu; and APSHON Chairman, Mr Ahamefula Nwabueze, respectively, pledged their support and loyalty for the Government.
They commended the Commissioner for her passion to transform the education sector in the state.
Recall that during the administration of the immediate-past Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the education sector witnessed a gross neglect leading to the loss of accreditation by the Medical College of the Abia State University.
The license of Abia State Polytechnic Aba was also withdrawn following months of strike occasioned by backlog of salary arrears.
Staff of Abia College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu, were also owed for over 30 months.
