LAST SESSION WE EXPERIENCED UPSURGE IN CHILDREN ENROLLMENT IN SCHOOLS ASUBEB Boss

LAST SESSION WE EXPERIENCED UPSURGE IN CHILDREN ENROLLMENT IN SCHOOLS

ASUBEB Boss

David Maduako –Umuahia

The Executive Chairman of Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB, ) Lady Lydia Ezihe Onuoha say Abia state experienced a great upsurge in the enrollment of children in the state’s public schools in the just concluded school session .

Speaking in her office shortly after a one day UBEC and Abia state ASUBEB Advocacy Sensitization Program on School Enrollment in Abia State , Lady Onuoha said right from the launching of ‘Abía First ‘ programme in the state , ASUBEB have been very supportive of Can giving access to Children to have quality education no matter their back ground .She explained that the Board have also given support on Interventions that are very evident in schools across the 17 LGAs of the state . She observed that ASUBEB have been involved in the retrofitting of schools which have given birth to increase in enrollment of pupils “just last term alone , we saw huge surge on enrollment and we have conducive learning environment, we have also ensured that facilities like furnitures and toilets would be put in place before the resumption of schools in September,” she noted .

She was full of praises for the state governor Dr Alex Otti for engaging over 5000 Teachers in the school system and assigning about 3,324 of the Teachers to ASUBEB . The Executive Chairman said the Board participated in the Orientation of the teachers and the Board is planning more Capacity Building for the Teachers , while the state government would come up with Scale up training for the Teachers during the holidays to prepare them for resumption of schools as it is expected that more Children would be enrolled on resumption of schools. Speaking on learning materials for the new intakes, Lady Onuoha said there are learning materials for the children noting that the state governor’s wife Lady Priscilla Chidinma Otti magnanimously distributed Exercise books to pupils at the beginning of the just concluded sectionqq. She was optimistic that the governor’s wife would repeat the kind gestures again on resumption of schools , the Board would equally assist in giving more learning materials to the children when schools reopen . UBEC she said would assist in providing Text Books for the pupils .

On teachers who complained over their place of posting being far from their place residence ,
Lady Onuoha called for calm Explaining that the Board in collaboration with relevant Stake holders have formed a New Teachers Posting Review Committee that would study the posting with a view of ensuring that teachers are posted to schools close to their place of residence , according to the Chairman , married women would also be considered to ensure they are not separated from their families.

The Executive Chairman said the review Committee would soon call for volunteers among the new teachers who would volunteer to go to hard to reach distant schools ,hinting that the governor have approved a special allowance for such Volunteers to assist them in transportation .

Speaking during the sensitization Program , the South East zonal Director of UBEC Dr. Rosemary Ujunwa said the essence of the sensitization Program is to ensure that every child is in school and all have a roll to play to ensure every child goes to school. She noted that there are Special schools for special children so the physical condition of a child is no excuse. Every child she said must have basic education making it clear that there are penalties for
parents and Guidians who fail to enroll their children in school.

Contributing the Abia state Coordinator of UBEC Mrs Umoyette Umyime said Abia is working hard to ensure that every child is in school . according to her the UNICEF target is to have 10 million children in school . Everybody she said have a roll to play in ensuring every child is in school .She was full of praises for the State governor who have engaged in massive capacity building to ensure every child acquires basic education.
End.