UNVEILING THE RETURN OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BETTER DAYS

By Ubani Newman Ubani(UNU)
#AbiaOnline
Education forms the bedrock of development in any nation. No wonder Education has always been a major concern of any development oriented government, and the society in general. A lot has been expended by individuals and government to ensure that everybody has it. In addition, the environment and medium through which education can be acquired is not less important as education itself.
The undisputable reality of the above paragraph must have played a major part to spurring Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu in choosing education as one of the five pillars of developments of his administration.
Since the inception of his administration in May 29, 2015, he has shown commitment in fixing the dilapidated structures of public schools and restoring the glory of government owed institutions.
As an academic of renown, Dr. Ikpeazu has set up actions in motion to transform public schools in the State. One of the plans now is the return of our public schools to better days and better standards.
By this plan, very soon Abia children will return to public schools as the public schools would become more preferable to private institutions.
The Abia State government at present is renovating over 300 primary schools across the State.
In addition, the State Government is also rebuilding and reconstructing our schools as model secondary schools with library and laboratories. Also, school Principals and other staff would now have staff quarters. The essence of it is to enhance teachers-students relationship as well as ensure the school environment is not left for hoodlums to hijack after school period is over.
For a start, the new model schools are four in number and are spread across every Senatorial cum educational zone in the State. In Abia South, we have model schools at Abayi in Aba and Osusu Amaukwa in Obingwa. Whereas we have one at Ohuhu in Umuahia in Abia Central and Collins Memorial School, Ohafia in Abia North zone.
It is important to stress that these pilot projects are to be used as foundation models for other schools in the State.
However, it is quiet disheartening to note that even public school teachers at present send their children to private schools, where of course more of less qualified teachers are teaching their children.
But as soon as these renovations and building of these model schools are over, these teachers and other Abia residents would certainly bring back their children to public schools. Certainly, the advantages of bringing children to the transformed schools cannot be over emphasized
The Governor has endeavoured to reduce the backlog of salaries owed to teachers in the State-Primary school teachers from 9 months to 2 months (paid by the local government councils) and Secondary school teachers from 7 to 4 months. Governor Ikpeazu is poised to ensure he bring them a par with their Ministries’ counterparts, who are now up to date in salary payment. All and sundry are expected to contribute their quota to make education in the State more effective and vibrant.
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