ANAMBRA PRIORITIZES ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, SAYS EDUCATION COMMISSIONER
By Obiageli Nwankwo :
The Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma- Udeh has emphasised that the state government is working relentlessly to ensure the state’s academic excellence remains unrivaled.
Speaking at the 2024/2025 WAEC and Education Stakeholders Committee meeting held at the Ministry of Education’s Conference Hall in Awka, the commissioner highlighted the state’s continuous efforts to sustain and surpass its academic achievements.
Professor Chuma-Udeh assured the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) team, led by Branch Controller Mr. Uduak-Akpan, that the ministry remains committed to excellence, stating, “We are not resting on our oars.” She outlined strategic initiatives aimed at further enhancing Anambra’s academic reputation, demonstrating the ministry’s proactive approach to education.
According to her, “one of such initiatives involves the recruitment and deployment of qualified teachers, particularly from remote areas like Anambra East, to address the shortage of educators and ensure students in these regions have uninterrupted access to education throughout the academic year.
“With the recent addition of 8,115 teachers, the state has now exceeded both the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation( UNESCO) and national teacher-student ratio guidelines, a significant milestone,” she noted.
Professor Chuma-Udeh also pointed to several key programs, including the annual teacher’s boot camp, periodic teacher examinations, competency-based capacity development programs, and incentives such as the payment of three years’ counterpart funding for the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
These initiatives, she said, are part of the current administration’s commitment to maintaining top-tier performance in the education sector.
The commissioner underscored the importance of continuous professional development, stating that these programs are designed to equip teachers with the latest advancements in pedagogy and help them refine their skills.
Earlier, the WEAC facilitator, Mrs. Genevieve Chukwudi Nwoko, guided the committee through an in-depth analysis of the various factors contributing to declining student performance, while also offering recommendations to enhance student achievement
The meeting was attended by several education stakeholders, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Ifeoma Agbaizu, and the Director of Schools, Mrs. Ifeoma Onyeneke, amongst others.
* Nwankwo is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *