Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has approved the construction of 20 Smart Schools across the 17 Local Government Areas of the State.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Kanu disclosed this while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council Meeting presided over by the Governor.
Prince Kanu described the move as a further boost to the Governor’s vision for the continuous revamp of the Education sector.
He said; “This would go hand in hand with the ongoing renovation and retrofitting of 251 schools across the state.
“This is an effort for the State to produce 21st century Students across board who would be in a position to compete with their counterparts from other parts of the world“.
Prince Kanu further disclosed that the new law mandating compulsory school attendance for children will come into effect on January 1, 2025, adding that under this law, it will be an offence for any parent or guardian in the state to fail to send their children or wards to school.
He said that the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, has been directed to activate necessary measures to enforce compliance.
“The States Government plan and commitment to Education in the state at least up to the Junior Secondary School level to ensure that there are no out of School Children in Abia State will come into force as announced earlier from the 1st of January 2025.
“Nothing short of full compliance will be acceptable.
“Consequently, the Honorable Commissioner for Basic Education who is saddled with the implementation and enforcement of the policy has been directed by his Excellency to activate all necessary arrangements pursuant to the full implementation of the policy“, the Commissioner noted.
The Information boss disclosed that the new COVID 19 variant ,XEC is not in the state pointing out that Abia has been declared free from Diphtheria, Mpox and Cholera by the Center for Disease Control.
“As at the week ended Saturday 7th of December, Abia State was reported free from all cases of M-pox, Difteria, Lassa Fever and Cholera”, he said.
Price Kanu revealed that the recently renovated Emergency Operation Center, funded by CARITAS and located at the Abia State Insurance Building, has been handed over to the Ministry of Health, noting that the facility will serve as a central hub for coordinating responses to Public Health Emergencies.
On road Infrastructure, the Commissioner revealed that the Ministry of Works has completed three new road projects in Aba, including the Cemetery Road Phase 2, Umule Road, and Umuocham Road which are slated for commissioning soon.
He said that the projects would bring the total number of commissioned roads under Governor Otti’s administration to 20 in addition to the 147 rehabilitated roads, completed through direct labor, in Aba, Umuahia, and other parts of the state.
Prince Kanu assured residents and visitors of adequate security measures during the yuletide season adding that preparations are underway to provide a safe and joyous yuletide for all.
Contributing,the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education ,Elder Goodluck Ubochi said the smart schools will begin with secondary schools,adding that existing schools will be be retrofitted for the purpose and teachers’ skills upgraded.
“We are going to use our existing schools and retrofit them to be suitable for facilities that make a smart school.
“We are going to upgrade the skills of our teachers and employ new teachers to meet the demands of the workforce required to run a smart school.
“The Government is making serious efforts to equip public schools to make them preferred schools in the state”, Elder Ubochi assured.
Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma emphasized that all the policie evolved by the State Government in the Education Sector are centered on increasing Public School Enrollment.
He noted that the training and retraining of teachers, payment of discriminatory package and the extension of age of retirement from 60 to 65 years and other incentives are aimed at motivating teachers, especially in the rural areas.
“This is ensure that experienced and qualified teachers are in the classroom teaching Abia children in public schools.
“Naturally people would begin to compare and want to enroll their children in public schools”, he said.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ukoha Njoku Ukoha was present during the briefing.
