ANAMBRA State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, has announced a new policy of free education for senior secondary students in all public schools in the state.
This is in addition to the existing policy of free education for pupils from kindergarten to JSS 3.
Soludo, who made the disclosure at Prof. Dora Akunyili Women’s Development in Awka, while exchanging views with principals and head-teachers in all public schools in the state, also directed that senior secondary students who had paid their school fees for the term should be refunded their monies.
He stated: “Yes! we now have a truly free education in Anambra. In all public schools, we should be able to guarantee that every child has access to free and qualitative education, especially to the poorest of the poor.
“For those who have collected, refund the school fees money back to the parents.
“We have posted over 2000 teachers to mission schools as a way of subsidizing education. There are no smart teachers without smart schools. We are gradually upscalling technology in our schools, with the current laying of over 2000 fibre optic cables.
“Because we declared truly free education from nursery, primary and JSS 3 pupils and students, enrolment in public schools increased by 18 per cent and out-of-school children dropped by two per cent, making Anambra the number one state with the lowest percentage of out-of-school children.”
“Human capital is our greatest asset. We are working to create a human capital that is productive at home and exportable abroad, leaving no one behind as true progressives.
“With this latest initiative, we will be putting thousands of money back to the pockets of Ndị-Anambra.”
He also disclosed that there were about 77 communities in the state without public schools, assuring that his administration was working to address the concern and provide options for Umụ-Anambra, and would continue to provide the resources for continuous learning by teachers.
“Securing our future is a collective effort. We must seize the opportunity now. It is the greatest investment we can make,” he added.
Soludo used the opportunity to announce that the state government would begin payment of the N70,000 minimum wage from October, saying that in spite of the binding resource constraint, his administration would continue to work round the clock to deliver on their mandate.
The governor noted: “We inherited arrears of pensions and gratuities. We will soon complete the payments.
“Anyone that retires under my watch usually get their entitlements after successful documentation. Though I have approval to borrow N100 billion since I came in, we haven’t borrowed, because we don’t want to encumber the future. I will borrow to build capacity for the future.
“Under my watch, we are going to maintain fiscal sustainability.”
He listed his administration’s achievements in all sectors of the state economy, including recruitment of 8,115 teachers, recruitment of over 1,000 doctors and health personnel, empowerment of 5,000 youths, with additional 8,000 youths, for the “one youth, two skills” entrepreneurship scheme, rebranding of three general hospitals, building of five brand new general hospitals, renovation of primary healthcare centres, free antenatal care and delivery services for pregnant mothers, leading to near zero mortality, ongoing construction of the Solution Innovation District, palm and coconut seedlings’ revolution, updating of the STEM education, payment for funding of UBEC, among others.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi; Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh; Commissioner for Local Government, Mr. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne; that of Budget and Economic Planning counterpart, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake; National President of Anambra Association of Town Unions, Mr. Titus Akpudo; Chairman of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, (ASUBEB), Prof. Vera Nwadinobi; and her Post-Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC) counterpart, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, attended the event.
