At Ebere Community Primary School, the Headmistress, Chidindu Peculiar, disclosed that pupils were ready for the examination early in the morning, but the assigned supervisor arrived late, causing a delay in the commencement of the exercise.

A similar situation was observed at Ogbor Hill Primary School (II), where a total of 106 pupils were registered to sit for the examination. The Headmistress, Mrs. Sabin Onwuka, said as of 12 noon, supervisors had yet to arrive, attributing the delay to the cumbersome process of collecting examination papers.

According to her, officials had to travel to Umuahia to obtain the materials before distributing them to schools, a process she described as stressful and inefficient. She called on the government to urgently review the system to prevent future occurrences.

Despite the initial setbacks, pupils at Ehere Community Primary School were eventually able to sit for the examination, with a total of 145 candidates participating.

Monitoring the exercise across the state, a supervisor, Mrs. Patience Oji, noted a significant increase in the number of pupils sitting for the common entrance examination, attributing the rise to ongoing improvements in the state’s education sector.

A parent, Mrs. Chiamaka, who accompanied her son to the examination centre, expressed satisfaction with the reforms in the education system. She commended Governor Alex Chioma Otti for his commitment to improving educational standards and creating a more conducive learning environment.

Providing an update later in the day, Mrs. Onwuka confirmed that examination papers eventually arrived at Ogbor Hill Primary School, explaining that the delay was due to the early arrival of pupils and parents. She, however, reiterated that there has been a noticeable improvement in the education sector, reflected in the growing number of candidates participating in the examination.

The exercise, though challenged by logistical delays, recorded increased participation, highlighting renewed interest in basic education across the state.

By Ibem Onyinyechi, Aba

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The Commissioner for Education in Abia State Prof. Uche Eme-Uche, made the admonishment when the new executives of a faction of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) paid her a courtesy visit in her office.

She reiterated the Government’s willingness to work with any Organization that is unified in order to move the education system in the State forward.

According to the Commissioner, the Ministry was open to collaboration and to accept concise proposals, but will not deal with faction of any Organization.

Eme-Uche, charged them to look into ways of curtailing exam malpractices in private schools and ensure they operate standard schools with qualified teachers .

She noted that Government was working to ensure that children displaced as a result of sealing of sub-standard schools were back to school .

The education commissioner, further advised them to go back and resolve their differeces to work as a unified body.

Contributing, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ikechukwu Chidozie Oriuwa encouraged them to resolve their disputes, to come out as consolidated organization.

He noted that the Ministry and Organization can only work effectively when they are united.

Speaking while introducing the new executive, the leader Prince Okey Ufomba, said they came to get acquainted with the Management of the Ministry and seek for synergy.

Prince Ufomba noted that the Organization has proposals for the advancement of education in the State.

He promised that the Organizations will settle their differences and come together as a united body.

Source

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She said that before now the Ministry had discussed with the stakeholders in education industry to ensure a hitch-free assignment.

Uche also said that she had appealed to the school owners to open their gates for the Ministry’s re-accreditation team, while warning the taskforce team to be professional throughout the assignment.

One of the resource persons and the Director Science Technology, Higher Education and vocational education Mr Wogu Alozie, said gone are the days when one teacher will teach more than one subject.

The seminar featured question and answer session.

The post Reclaim Our School Initiative: Ministry Of Education Trains Taskforce Team first appeared on National Ambassador News.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Friday announced the renaming of Faulks Road, Aba to Sam Mbakwe Road.

This followed a request by a student of Danijoy International School, Umuahia, during the Governor’s LECTURE at the School on “Building a New Nigeria Through Democratic Leadership”.

The Governor who made references to the former Governor Sam Mbakwe as a model in effective leadership,called for a change in public perception where heroes will be rewarded and villains condemned.

While describing  public perception as key to building a new Nigeria, Ikpeazu said it has contributed to the failure of Nigeria and called for greater encouragement for virtues of honesty, tolerance, temperance and morality.

He maintained that democratic norms must be learnt and imbibed from the cradle so as to build a better society.

The Governor described the lecture topic as apt, saying that a good citizen must be disciplined, conscious of the environment and work towards protecting it.

He advocated for technical education, saying that it would make learning in Nigeria more functional and capable of tackling unemployment, hence his administration is emphasis on technical education.

 Governor Ikpeazu further disclosed that plans are on the way to introduce the use of digital learning in public secondary schools by October this year adding that his administration in collaboration with the federal government engaged in school feeding program which has increased the public school enrollment from 150, 000 to 660, 000 in Abia State . 

The Governor assured that his administration shall continue to partner with the private sector in the development of all facets of our state’s economy including education and insisted that private schools must continue to operate within government guidelines. 

Earlier, the Head of schools, Ambassador Anthony Ororho said the school is proud of the efforts of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in bringing qualitative education to Abia students. He assured that their students would win trophies at home and abroad and present to the Governor as a way of showcasing their academic excellence.

Senior Prefect of the school, Jennifer Ogbunamiri said the lecture would provide the students with a road map to a better future and impactful citizens. She thanked the Governor for coming to deliver the lecture and expressed their interest of becoming like him in future as a successful academic and good leader.

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As a strategy to support the Abia State government in promoting learning in the state, a Non-Governmental Organization, Ray Nkemdirim Foundation has instituted Abia State School Academic Competition, ASSAC across the zones in the State.

This competition is aimed at motivating students within the state towards sustained interest in learning.

Briefing Journalists in Umuahia, the Coordinator,Ray Nkemdirim Foundation, Uche Ama-Ohaka said that the Annual Scholarship and Quiz Competition will take off at the local government level from Monday April 12th – 16th while the zonal quiz competition would commence by April 19th – 2st with the grand finale holding on Friday May 26th,2021.

He disclosed that the first position will go home with a star price of N450,000, while the 1st and 2nd Runners Up will go home with N320,000 and N220,000 respectively.

According to him, there will be consolation prizes, trophies and medals, while the Scholarship Programme will be held as an annual event.

Ohaka said the competition is in partnership with the Abia State Ministry of Education, Abia State Secondary Education Management Board, SEMB, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools NAPPS, Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Abia State Scholarship Board as well as the FLO FM 94.9 Radio Station Umuahia.

He explained that the forms for participation are free of charge while schools are to pick up their forms from the offices of partner agencies.

“Ray Nkemdirim Foundation is a non profit organization with her mission summed up in strategic community-oriented actions for good governance and Sustainable development. Our sole aim is to contribute our quota to the uplifting of humanity.

“Our goal therefore is to leverage on the foundations resources, capacity and networks to ensure realization of the educational dreams of ordinary citizens hitherto hindered by finance and right motivations, and also to creatively support Abia State Government’s effort in the education sector.

“With this project, we hope to rightly stimulate, motivate and encourage learning in our state using various incentives, motivational and inspirational mechanisms like school quiz, debates, grants, scholarships, other productive competition and reward systems; we hope to engender sustained interest in education and openly reward efforts for more”, Ama-Ohaka noted.

Also speaking, the Representative of the Ministry of Education,Mr Kalu John while describing education as a veritable instrument for national development, noted that the burden of education cannot be borne by government alone.

He called on all stakeholders to partner with the Ministry to ensure that education in Abia is taken to a higher level and thanked the Founder, Chief Raymond Nkemdirim for the noble initiative.

The occasion attracted the presence of the NAPPS representative, Mrs Okezie Uchechi, Representative of the Abia State Scholarship Board, Dr. Mrs Anyanwu Nnenna as well as the Representative of the Secondary Education Management Board, Mrs Ezichi Ebere.

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The Ministry of Education has applauded the outgoing commissioner of the Ministry, Dr KCK Nwangwa, over the numerous achievements recorded during his time as the commissioner.

Speaking during the hand-over ceremony,the Permanent secretary, Ministry of Education,Elder Eze Ajuzie, alongside the Director Inspectorate of the Ministry,Mrs Rhoda Dimanochie, praised the tenacity of the outgoing commissioner, which they said gave the management and staff of the ministry,the privilege to harness their potentials, bringing about landmark achievements.

According to them,the efforts of the commissioner,helped in changing the narrative of the Education sector and revamping the system that was characterised by substandard schools.

While wishing him well in his future endeavors, they promised to uphold the standard set in the Education ministry.

Reacting,the outgoing Commissioner, Dr KCK Nwangwa, thanked the Management and staff of the ministry for their collective support,which he said paved way for the successes recorded in the ministry.

Nwangwa disclosed that he enjoyed the cordiality that existed between him, top officials of the ministry and the entire staff, admonishing them to keep up the good work and not to relent in their support for the Governor of the state,who is poised in taking the education sector to its eldorado.

While extolling the Governor for the opportunity given him to contribute his quota towards the development of education in the state,pledged his continuous loyalty to his administration.

In an interview with newsmen, Dr Nwangwa, however, listed some of his achievements in the Education sector to include, restoring the standard of the sector, which before his arrival, became a trade for everyone.

“Education was seen as a means of making money,with mushroom schools scattered all over the state,thereby bringing down the standard of education”,he stated.

The Ex Commissioner said he was able to close down some schools that were operating substandardly, especially those operating from residential buildings,church halls, council halls and makeshift buildings.

Nwangwa,however,disclosed that he was able to bring to bare the difference between going to school and being educated, stating that of what use is education without Attitude and Aptitude,this he said,was lacking in our educational system.

He added that most of the challenges confronting our education is because people place more emphasis on grades than knowledge, adding that the crave for good grades, has contributed to the ugly vices we see today in the education sector.

The former commissioner also stated that the ministry through the help of the Governor of the state, successfully carried out the Radio/TV school during the period of Covid 19 lockdown.

He further stated that the ministry was at the verge of digitalizing the Central Promotion Examination before the outbreak of Covid 19.

Intimating the press on some of the challenges he encountered while in office, the Ex commissioner pointed out that the Coronavirus pandemic,was a big threat to his administration,as it contributed in putting on hold some of their programmes,as well as disrupting the school’s calendar, praying God to restore the system again.

Highpoint of the event was the official hand-over and a prayer session for the ex commissioner.

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