…says Soludo’s second term should also prioritise further development of school infrastructure.
AWKA, Nigeria — The iNews Times | Soludo second term expectations in the education sector have been outlined by Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, who called for the expansion of smart schools across the state to ensure that every child benefits from the initiative.
Speaking during a chat with journalists, Chuma-Udeh said one of her major expectations in Soludo’s second term is the institutionalisation of the free education policy to close the educational gap between children from wealthy and less privileged backgrounds.
The commissioner described the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo as revolutionary in rebuilding, restructuring and overhauling the education system in Anambra State.
According to her, Soludo’s second term should also prioritise further development of school infrastructure so that communities that currently lack schools can benefit from new educational facilities.
Chuma-Udeh listed key achievements of the Soludo administration in the education sector to include the elimination of schools without teachers through the employment of about 8,115 teachers, as well as the introduction of the free education policy.
“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,” she said.
She further noted that the free education initiative had significantly improved access to quality education for children across the state.
“Another major achievement in the sector is the free education policy, which has brought equitable and quality education to the doorstep of every Anambra child.
“There has also been massive reconstruction of schools following the inheritance of largely moribund educational infrastructure,” Chuma-Udeh added.
She also highlighted the establishment of 21 smart schools under the Soludo administration, noting that the initiative was designed to equip Anambra children with quality education that would make them productive locally and competitive globally.
“Besides, the state now records one of the lowest numbers of out-of-school children across Africa,” she said.
Chuma-Udeh further commended improvements in teachers’ welfare, noting that salaries and other entitlements are now paid regularly.
According to her, teachers in Anambra remain appreciative of the governor’s commitment to their welfare and the overall transformation of the education sector.
