Education remains the bedrock of every society. Advanced economies could not have attained their heights in technology and scientific breakthroughs without the contributions of their educational system. Though, the developing economies of the world has since realized the importance of education, yet poor leadership at all levels had dealt a devastating blow on the growth of such an important sector in their socio-economic development. The poor remuneration of teachers at all levels in our clime coupled with most government insensitivity to their welfare, poor infrastructural facilities, poor or inadequate teaching aids as well as the exorbitant cost of tuition, lack of employment opportunities for those who went through enough hassles to acquire educational experiences and other related ancillary to ensure robust growth of the sector have helped in no little measure to make education as uninspiring and backward as possible. Regrettably, the rot in the public education as well as the products of this rot has equally assumed an alarming proportion. Today, why we bemoan our fate in the education sector, the quality of students and graduates being churned out has continued to be a source of worry to only sincere governments. These half baked graduates have become largely unemployable. What a pity!
Welcome to the 21century. A leader has risen in Enugu State who is determinedly steering the ship of state to change the narrative of Education once and for better. Rt. Honorable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi since assumption of duty have never hidden his disdain for the poor run of many of our youths in education. His vision and mission to change the narrative in all sectors set him on a turbulent voyage to reclaim the past glory enjoyed by the coal city state in the years of yore. As a man who understands his mandate, he wasted no time to bring on board his administration time tested and trusted technocrats who will eventually translate his many visions into reality. Honorable Ikeje Asogwa is just one of these technocrats regarded as a round peg in a round hole. Upon his appointment in 2015 to supervise the activities of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), he wasted no time in articulating the visions of his Excellency the governor. Today, Enugu State has been set on a steady part of sustainable growth in the education sector. Many thanks for his insights, doggedness and lubish engagements at the board.
It is important to stress that today, his mission at ENSUBEB is being steadily realized. Many parents are no longer hamstrung to send their wards to the public school. Most children of school age are no longer laid back to attend public schools because they have seen better days with Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on the throne. Today, teachers have been adequately motivated to put in their best to incubate and hatch young lads that will adequately take over the affairs of tomorrow. Today, learning experiences in public schools is one comparable to what is obtainable in the A list private schools designed for the elite in the society.
It is also instructive to observe that the many reforms embarked by ENSUBEB under the astute management of Hon. Ikeje Asogwa have left over 1000 classroom blocks across the state reconfigured and rejuvenated. Have also left the teaching class reinvigorated for better service delivery of their responsibilities. It is on record that ENSUBEB was once the uninspiring Agency of government which failed on all fours to revitalize the education system in Enugu until the emergence of Ugwuanyi who appointed Ikeje to change the fortunes of the agency. Today, the fortunes of ENSUBEB have not only looked nicer but one looking up and firmed to make the education system a money spinning venture of the government.
It is also on good record that the state’s government resolve to reform our education system saw to the procurement and distribution of teaching and instructional materials. These materials include; a total of 1,810 teachers tables and chairs,1,855 marker boards, 43,085 seats and lockers for Primary and Junior Secondary Schools across the State. Other learning materials include; 5,006 lockers and chairs, 2,390 ceiling fans specifically for early child development.
In the area of incentives to boost staff performances, ENSUBEB has been able to promote a total number of 10,123 tutorial and non-tutorial staffs.
It is equally on record that Gov.Ugwuanyi led administration resolve to change the trajectories, ensured that the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the education of children adversely. During the lock down occasioned by the pandemic, ENSUBEB in partnership with Enugu State Government and Ministry of Education, introduced E-learning programme on radio. The daily radio programme proudly sponsored by Gov.Ugwuanyi’s administration, featured on different broadcasting outlets from the 25th of April, 2020 till date. The radio programme was conducted on the following stations; Radio Nigeria Coal City Fm, Sunrise FM 96.1Fm, Star Television ETV channel.
In the area of capacity building, the administration of Gov.Ugwuanyi had conducted training and retraining of tutorial and non-tutorial staffs which include both the head-teachers and principals of Junior Secondary Schools in all Local Government Education Authority (LGEA). The training programme which was part of Gov.Ugwuanyi’s resolve to promote competency and innovation in the Civil Service, captured 2000 participants.
Furthermore, ENSUBEB had conducted cluster school model, advanced leadership training, an interactive session for all the 1980 teachers and head-teachers. At the end of the training, the total number of 120 SSIT and SSDS, benefited immensely From the programme.
Meawhile, under the social mobilization programme, the board further established a functional Based Management Committee in all the Public Primary Schools in the State. And as part of government’s plan to improve school education and learning, the total number of 8,940 members of Based Management Committee which cut across 1,223 public primary schools in the state, were equally engaged and trained. Others who benefited from the training include; 20 CSOs, 20 SMOs, 20 SMD good number of SSITs, 158 SSOs, as well as 1,223 head-teachers in the state.
For the purpose of conducting Spot on Check and Value Assessment, it is good to note that, ENSUBEB team went round the 17 Local Government Areas of the State, to update school record generated from the Annual School Census 2018/2019 and to find out the level of participation by School Based Management Committee(SBMC). The Board had equally, adopted the same method, by visiting schools at the beginning of each term, to monitor the activities of various schools in the state.
It is good to know that ENSUBEB, under managerial control of Mr ikeji Asogwa, had not failed in it’s duties, to engage vigorously, the leadership of the Local Government Areas of the State on objectives, plans and issues of great importance to the Local Government Education Authority. Again, reformed Education Board has succeeded in monitoring and reporting LGEA activities as well as providing management information, and after which Secretaries of Education, would liaise with the board to review and agree on core objectives and aims that would further have a level playing ground for quality education to thrive.
With Gov.Ugwuanyi at the helm of affairs, we are assured of a continued synergy among ENSUBEB, Ministry of Education and other Education Agencies to bring more positive changes to our education system through restructuring and rebranding.
Bibian Anekwe News… added… “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”
Written by
GIBSON UCHENNA ILOZURU
A POLITICAL ANALYST
MEDIA TEAM MEMBER: ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
