ANAMBRA STATE HOSTS 4-DAY CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATORS
By Obiageli Nwankwo
The Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Education, has organized a four-day capacity-building workshop aimed at enhancing the skills of private school proprietors and teachers across the state.
The training, held at St. John of God Secondary School, Awka, brought together private education stakeholders from six zonal areas — Awka, Nnewi, Aguata, Onitsha, Otuocha, and Ogidi. The initiative focused on improving educational practices, aligning private schools with national and state education policies, and promoting quality assurance.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, who addressed participants, emphasized the importance of continuous professional development for private sector educators. “This workshop is to upscale and upgrade your skills to ensure effective teaching and administration,” she said.
Prof. Chuma-Udeh stressed the need for private schools to adhere to both national and state educational standards, encouraging participants to embrace the current administration’s education reform initiatives and align their practices with global best standards.
“Our goal is to raise students who are not only valuable within our local communities but also globally competitive,” she noted, referencing Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision for the state’s educational system.
She added that it is best practice for school administrators to attend at least four professional conferences annually, a standard many private sector educators are yet to meet. The commissioner urged teachers to maximize the opportunity provided by the state to refine their instructional methods.
“Every school-age child in Anambra belongs to the state, regardless of the school they attend. You have a responsibility to prepare them not just for exams, but for the wider world,” she emphasized.
The workshop featured lectures from distinguished scholars and education experts on key areas such as effective teaching strategies, ethics and morality in education, leadership, school administration, English language proficiency, and the implementation of the National Policy on Education.
Leaders of private education bodies, including Mrs. Amaka Ekwonu, Chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), and Mr. Christian Nwanosike, Chairman, Private Education Network of Schools Association of Nigeria (PENSAN), praised the Ministry for its dedication to educational quality. They also expressed gratitude to Governor Soludo, Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chuma-Udeh, Permanent Secretary Dr. Ifeoma Agbaizu, and the entire organizing team for their support and vision.
Obiageli is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State