ASUBEB Flags-off Distribution of Free Statutory Records to Basic Schools, Set to Commence Full Digitalisation

By Uzo Ugwunze

In line with Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s zero levy policy for basic education in Anambra State, the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board ASUBEB, Awka, has flagged-off the distribution of administrative statutory academic records to basic schools across the State.

The event, conducted by the Executive Chairman of ASUBEB, Dr. Justina Anyadiegwu at the ASUBEB headquarters, Awka was witnessed by critical stakeholders in the basic education sector, including the Secretary, Post Primary Schools Service Commission, PPSSC, Awka, Zonal Directors of Education, Directors of the various Departments in ASUBEB, Officers in-charge, members of the Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria, AOPSHON, and Education Secretaries, among others.

In her welcome address, the ASUBEB Chairman, Dr. Justina Anyadiegwu noted that the distribution exercise is one of the practical expressions of the free education policy of the Soludo administration aimed at removing barriers to education and creating an enabling environment for schools to function effectively.

According to the ASUBEB boss, the administrative statutory records for distribution include registers, diaries, folders, and other essential school records, at no cost, for effective administration and documentation of school activities.

While commending Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, for his policy direction, strong support, and enabling environment that facilitated the implementation of the initiative, aimed at reducing administrative burden on Headteachers, she added that the exercise would also improve school administration through digital records keeping.

“We recognise that digitalisation would require adequate preparation, continuous capacity building, and sustained support for the schools” Dr. Anyadiegwu said.

Continuing, Anyadiegwu announced that by the next academic session, the basic schools system would commence a systematic migration from manual record-keeping to full digital school records, stressing that the recent training of Headteachers, Officers-in-charge, and Zonal Directors across the State on the use of digital registers and other digital administrative records was to prepare them for the next phase of their administrative reforms.

Earlier, the Director of Administration Department, Mrs Florence Chinweze in an opening remark said the exercise was a deliberate, and thoughtful step towards strengthening school administration, noting that effective school record keeping is the backbone of any functional educational system.

The Secretary, PPSSC, Lady Bernardine Anagor reminded the Headteachers that the statutory records provided for them, free of charge, was for a better school administration, urging the Officers-in-charge to monitor their compliance to the use of the records.

In their separate remarks, the Zonal Director of Education, Onitsha Zone, Lady Afoma Agbapuonwu, the Chairman, AOPSHON, Anambra State chapter, Mrs Josephine Chikwendu, the Chairman, Officers-in-charge, Mrs Celestina Oranye, and one of the Education Secretaried, Rev. Canon Jonathan Ikpeoyi expressed joy with Governor Soludo for his commitment in upgrading the basic schools system, while thanking the ASUBEB Chairman, Dr. Anyadiegwu for her prompt response in providing the administrative statutory records to the schools, promising to utilise the materials judiciously.

Speaking in an interview, the ASUBEB Consultant, Lady Stella Ezepue observed that the records were not only to ease administrative cost but to enhance school management, records, teaching and learning for improved learning outcomes, and charged the Headteachers to ensure that the records are well kept and updated.

Delivering the vote of thanks, the secretary, AOPSHON, Mr. Joseph Ikpeani paid tribute to Governor Soludo for his education friendly policies, and the Chairman of ASUBEB for ameliorating their administrative challenges.

Highpoint of the event was the symbolic Flag-off of the administrative statutory records by the ASUBEB Chairman.