Ebonyi, USAID Complete Baseline Assessment of Public Primary Schools
By EgwuAgha Amarachukwu
Abakaliki
With the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ebonyi State Government has completed a baseline assessment of 327 primary schools in the state.
Speaking during the presentation of the results of the assessment on Monday, the Executive Chairman of the Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, thanked USAID for supporting the state in implementing the project.
“Teachers must recommit themselves to improved standards of teaching and rededicate themselves to their primary duties. On its part, the Government will continue to improve teacher capacity building, welfare and supervision,” he said.
In response, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Comrade Francis Egwu, commended the state government and USAID for the completion of the baseline assessment.
“We must base reforms in basic education on facts. The fact remains that Ebonyi State has a gross inadequacy of teachers. With the current embargo on employment, teachers who have resigned, retired or left the service have not been replaced. This leads to over-crowded classrooms and impairs the condition for effective learning,” he said.
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While thanking the Governor for his efforts in improving the outcomes of the Ebonyi State education system, the Executive Director of Technology for Transformative Development Foundation (TTD), Ewah Otu Eleri stated that the baseline assessment will allow the state government and education stakeholders to identify priority areas for intervention.
“Such priority areas include the improvement of learning capabilities, access to learning materials and the overall learning environment. Other areas include teacher recruitment, training and improved conditions of service.
“Key investments are needed to bring Ebonyi schools to the twenty-first century. This includes the scaling up of school infrastructure, improved supply of school furniture, more conducive classrooms, water and sanitation and electricity in schools,” he said.
A Director in TTD, Eze Igweogbuoffia, encouraged stakeholders to use the baseline assessment as a launching pad for building consensus for the required reforms in basic education in Ebonyi State.
“A strong coalition is needed to drive forward the needed improvements in basic education. We call on key stakeholders, including the state government, the private sector, community associations, faith-based organisations and other NGOs to join hands with us to develop a strategic plan for reforming the education sector in Ebonyi State,” he said.