By Ejike Abana, Awka
Anambra State government has increased the monthly running cost for Public Schools in the state from 10,000 to 50,000 naira only.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo made the announcement while holding an interactive session with Head Teachers and Principals of public schools in the state.
Part of the aim of the session which was held at the International Convention Centre, Awka was to brainstorm and decipher solutions to challenges making access to quality education in the schools difficult.
Governor Soludo also assured that there will be an upgrade in infrastructure in all public schools in the state in the coming weeks.
He called for more community involvement under the Public, Community, Private Partnership arrangement in the schools such as in engaging in quality assurance and club of patrons to better the quality of education in the schools.
The Governor pointed out that his administration will come up with an independent monitoring team for schools, as well as provide phone numbers for schools as a feedback mechanism.
The Governor expressed optimism that his administration will eventually get to the point where text books for children in public schools will be free, stressing that the aim is to make education accessible to the poorest of the poor, mainstreaming public schools to become smart and the model.
Governor Soludo stated that part of the goal is to end the era of “PTA” teachers in schools, reiterating that the prosperous homeland cannot be attained by creating the vicious circle of the widening difference between the quality of education received by children of the poor and that of the rich.
He said that the primary role of government is to provide qualitative education and stressed that the quality of education in the public schools appears to be the weakest, assuring that his administration intends to bring back the era of using education as an equaliser and ladder of opportunities.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh said that the Governor has the passion to serve and is engendering solutions in all aspects of the State economy
Prof. Chuma-Udeh added that the Governor is working to give the best sustainable education, asking the teachers to rally support for him.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Head of Service, Barr. Theodora Igwegbe, Commissioner for Local Government, Mr. TonyCollins Nawbunwanne, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, Anambra State House Committee Chairman on Education, Hon. Anayo Okpalaeke, Chairpersons of ASUBEB and PPSSC, education stakeholders, among others.
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