Education in Nigeria
Abia employs 2,500 teachers, engages marshals to enforce free, compulsory education
Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has authorized the employment of 2,500 fresh primary and secondary school teachers, in the first instance, to fill the existing vacancies in the state’s school system.
Another batch of 2,500 is expected to be engaged, in case of any shortfall, to bring the number of teachers estimated to be recruited by the present administration, to 5, 000 teachers, as promised by the governor during the 2023 electioneering.
The Abia state Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu broke the cheering news on Tuesday while briefing newsmen at Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s state Executive Council meeting chaired by governor Otti.
“This of course is another pointer to how important this sector is to the governor,” Prince Kanu stated.
Prince Kanu equally announced that government has commenced the full implementation of the zero out- of- school- children policy, stressing that school marshals have been appointed to work with the harmonized taskforce in the state to achieve the objective of government in that regard.
He explained that having commenced compulsory free education for pupils and students of basic education, there was need to ensure the out of school children policy is made effective.
The Information boss also announced that government has introduced Mathematics clinics for Certificate students in examination classes of JSS 3 and SS3, which will hold Tuesday and Thursday of every week between the hours of 7 to 7:45.00 am.
This is aimed at fully realizing the STEM policy of the present administration.
His words:”The Abia state Ministry of Basic Education has fully commenced with the enforcement of Out of School Children Policy initiative with the appointment of Education Marshalls.
“Also to strengthen its programme for our schools the state government has introduced a Mathematics Clinc that would run from Tuesdays through Thursdays to enhance the teaching of Mathematics.
“Mathematics we know is very basic to the realisation of the STEM subjects. STEM subjects involve Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics and Mathematics is the bedrock for the development of science and technology”.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Basic Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi stressed the essence of quality education and said that it cannot be achieved without teachers.
“There is no way we can talk about quality education without teachers. In our schools we don’t have sufficient number of teachers to handle most of the subjects,” he said.
“Before now, there has been speculations all over the place about employment of teachers. It is now, within the week we are going to make public the modalities. It is not going to be a process where you bring your application to the Ministry or to whoever. We are going to have a platform where we do it online.”
According to Elder Ubochi, enforcement of the free and compulsory basic education policy of the state government is essential as education is pertinent to Dr. Alex Otti led administration.
“To make this work, the Ministry established what we called ‘Education Marshalls’. They will work like taskforce but not in the same modality.
“The essence of setting up this group is to move around during school hours, any child that is of school age seen around will be picked up, not to be beaten or embarrassed but be taken to the school nearest to him or her.
“But before he or she is taken to the school, we will use the child to locate the parents or guardians or whoever has been keeping the child and we will be able to find out why he is holding back the child from going to school,” Ubochi clarified.
He equally explained that the reason for the STEMS education programme is that government wants to build confidence of the external examination or certificate class students of JSS 3 and SS 3.
He said they would be resuming classes from 7,00 am before the normal school period commences and that they would be learning Mathematics from seasoned teachers in the morning and extension of closure time from 2pm to 4pm for other science subjects such as Biology, Physics, Chemistry and English.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Prof. Joel Ogbonna, Special Adviser to Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma and Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Chief Ukoha Njoku Ukoha were present at the briefing.