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Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Awka has commenced distribution of administrative statutory academic records to basic schools across the State in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s zero levy policy for basic education.
Executive Chairman of ASUBEB, Dr. Justina Anyadiegwu described the initiative as one of the practical expressions of the free education policy of the current administration aimed at removing barriers to education and creating enabling environment for schools to function effectively.
She said 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.
Appreciating the Governor for his policy direction and support that facilitated implementation of the initiative, aimed at reducing administrative burden on Headteachers, Anyadiegwu said 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.
“By next academic session, the basic schools system will commence a systematic migration from manual record-keeping to full digital school records.
“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,” she added.
Earlier, Director of Administration Department, Mrs Florence Chinweze said the exercise was deliberate and thoughtful step towards strengthening school administration, describing effective school record keeping as 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 better school administration, urging the Officers-in-charge to monitor their compliance to the use of the records.
Speaking separately, Zonal Director of Education, Onitsha Zone, Lady Afoma Agbapuonwu, Chairman, AOPSHON, Anambra State chapter, Mrs Josephine Chikwendu, Chairman, Officers-in-charge, Mrs Celestina Oranye, and one of the Education Secretaries, Rev. Canon Jonathan Ikpeoyi lauded the Governor for his commitment in upgrading the basic schools system.
They also appreciated the ASUBEB Chairman for her prompt response in providing the administrative statutory records to the schools, promising to utilise the materials judiciously.
On her part, 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.
She charged the Headteachers to ensure the records were properly kept and updated.
Delivering the vote of thanks, secretary, AOPSHON, Mr. Joseph Ikpeani paid tribute to Soludo for his education friendly policies, and the Chairman of ASUBEB for ameliorating their administrative challenges.
The event attracted critical stakeholders in the basic education sector, including Zonal Directors of Education, Directors of the various Departments in ASUBEB, Officers in-charge, members of the Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (APSHON), Education Secretaries, among others.
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