By MaryAnn Chukwuma
The Anambra State Government has dismissed reports suggesting plans to reclaim mission-returned schools, while announcing measures to enforce minimum operating standards across public and private primary schools in the state.
The decision was reached at the 16th meeting of the second-term Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC), held on October 12, at the Light House, Awka.
The Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, disclosed this in a press release issued on October 13.
According to the Council, the state government has no plans to reclaim mission-returned schools, describing reports alleging such a move as false.
However, ANSEC expressed concern over the poor standards observed in some mission-returned primary schools, which had been voluntarily handed over to the government.
To address the situation, the council resolved to establish minimum operating standards for all public and private primary schools in the state. It warned that schools that fail to meet the stipulated requirements would face closure.
The council also disclosed that several primary schools were undergoing renovation under the counterpart-funding arrangement between the Anambra State Government and the Federal Government.
Furthermore, the state government revealed that it had recruited 8,115 teachers for public primary and secondary schools, with 3,500 deployed to mission-returned schools. The government also confirmed that it continues to pay the salaries of the teachers.
*MaryAnn Chukwuma is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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