My Expectations in Soludo’s Second Term – Commissioner

By Praise Chinecherem

Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh has called for expansion of the smart schools to ensure every child benefited from the facilities.

She also called for institutionalization of the free education policy so that the educational gap between the rich and the poor will be closed.

Speaking during a chat with newsmen on her expectations from Governor Chukwuma Soludo in his second tenure, the commissioner described Soludo’s administration as revolutionary in system rebuilding, restructuring and overhauling.

She further recommended for more school infrastructure development to ensure communities yet to have schools would be captured.

Chuma-Udeh enumerated Soludo’s achievements in the education sector to include abolition of the phenomenon of schools without teachers through the employment of 8,115 teachers as well as free education policy.

She said, “By this, the state met global standards of a ratio of 26 pupils to one teacher in primary schools and 30 students to one teacher in secondary schools.

“Other most important achievements in the sector is the free education policy, which has brought equitable and quality education to the doorstep of every Anambra child, massive reconstruction of schools following the inheritance of moribund educational infrastructure.

“Mr Governor also established 21 smart schools aimed at equipping Anambra children with quality education that will make them productive at home and competitive abroad.

“Besides, the State has the lowest number of out-of-school children across Africa.”

According to the commissioner, other areas the Governor has done much in the education sector were improvement of teachers’ welfare as well as regular payment of salaries and other emoluments.

“Anambra teachers are among the workers in the country who enjoy this privilege and they are very appreciative of the Governor,” she added.