Anambra Tasks Individuals, Groups On Education Standard

The trainer, Brewery Department, Life Continental Beer, Mr Emeka Osuji (right), addressing winners of the Life Continental Beer Progress Booster Radio Competition, at Nigeria Breweries, Ama in Enugu, last Wednesday

The Anambra State Gov
ernment has urged individuals, groups and corporate bodies to key into its “Visit a School Programme’’ to improve the standard of education in public schools.
The Commissioner for Education in the state, Prof. Kate Omenugha, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Onitsha on Monday.
She said that government alone could not do everything.
Omenugha said that the government was financially constrained to provide all the necessities for the 1,046 public primary and 256 public secondary schools in the state.
According to her, this made the government to introduce the “Visit a School Programme’’ from the “Adopt a School Programme’’ initiated by the former Minister of Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili.
“Instead of spending our money doing one thing that would not be good for our society; put it into a school.
“Because, one thing about a school is that school is not politicised in any form.
“When we were growing up, we went to public schools, but the difference between the time we went to public schools and now is that, for those of us who went to public schools we also had children of the wealthy in those public schools.
“Because then, it wasn’t in vogue to go to private schools.
“But now, you find out that if we leave these public schools, you will see that it is only, if you like, wretched of the earth will be going there.
“That’s why we need to (join hands to) ensure that definitely we help to build a school.
“If you go into that school and find out there is something (you can do for its betterment); write to the ministry, tell us what you want to do, tell us how you want to help and then, keep on investing in that school and we will invite the governor to come and see it.
“People, who love education and I believe everybody does, go visit a school nearest to you.
“Even if it is going in there to talk to the children, mentor them, let them have role models they will look up to.
“This way we continue to make sure that (public schools) continue to excel.’’
The commissioner said that the government would give special recognition to individuals, groups or corporate bodies that keyed into the programme.
She expressed joy that some individuals in Nnewi had already started upgrading public schools within their communities.