Soludo flags off distribution of instructional materials, buses for Anambra Basic Schools

By Njide Ezeonyejiaku

The State Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, has assured that the era of schools without teachers is over in Anambra State.

Speaking at the official flag-off of the distribution of the multimillion Naira instructional materials and the commissioning of six Shuttle Buses for quality assurance monitoring visits, held at the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB Headquarters, Awka, Governor Soludo, represented by the Head of Service, Barr. Theodora Igwegbe noted that education in Anambra State is free, adding that 2000 laptops were recently distributed to Head Teachers of schools to enhance their digital skills and facilitate a speedy digitization of education in the State.

The Governor maintained the the instructional materials for schools were to enhance quality teaching and learning with a view to making the children of Anambra study without tears.

He observed that his administration has impacted positively on all sectors of the State economy, including health, human capital development and road infrastructure, especially the hard to reach areas like Awba Ofemmili Road, among other communities, stressing that solution is already here.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Executive Chairman, ASUBEB, Awka, Dr. Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi commended Governor Soludo for his unwavering interest in promoting education in the State, pointing out that the Governor made the procurement of the multimillion Naira instructional materials possible by approving the payment of N3.093,768,157.72 matching grant to UBEC/SUBEC 2019, 2020, and 2021 intervention projects to improve teaching and learning environment of the State schools.

Among the items to be distributed were ICT equipment, English, Mathematics and core subjects textbooks, Magnetic white boards, Early Childhood Care and Development, ECCD toys, JSS plastic chairs and tables, iron framed teachers tables, and six Shuttle Buses for Quality Assurance Monitoring and Supervision Visits.

Dr. Nwadinobi also stated that apart from the non payment of any form of levy in both primary and secondary schools in the State, the recruitment of 5,000 teachers and the ongoing recruitment of extra 3,000 teachers to cushion the upsurge of school enrollment, the Governor has not delayed in the payment of teachers’ salaries and gratuities, nor forgot the mission schools who will also benefit from the distribution of the instructional materials, and commended the Governor for changing the face of basic education in Anambra State.

In their separate remarks, the ASUBEB Secretary, Hon. Ebele Mgbemena and Board Member 1, Hon. Ifeyinwa Anatune observed that words would not be enough to appreciate what the Governor is doing in ensuring that the pupils and students in the public-public and public-mission schools have what they need to excel.

While urging the Head Teachers to ensure that they safeguard the materials, they noted that improved success and more laurels for the state are being awaited from the learners.

Responding to the development, some of the teachers and learners including Mrs Ngozi Onochie from Migrant Farmers School, Nnobi and Mrs Uju Orji from Amaenyi Girls Secondary School, Awka as well as Master Godsmercy Ezeotuka from Central School, Awka and Udenze Marvelous from Udoka Primary School, Awka expressed joy for the materials given to their schools and prayed God to bless the Governor.

Present at the event were the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Mr. Hamid Bobboyi, represented by the State Coordinator, Mr. Kingsley Nlewedim; other ASUBEB Board Members, Zonal Directors, Unit Heads, and Head Teachers among others.

Welcome song by Udoka Primary, Awka, cultural dances by Central School, Awka and Amaenyi Girls Secondary School, Awka added colour at the occasion, while commissioning of the Shuttle Buses and the symbolic distribution of the instructional materials were the high points of the event.