The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo strongly believes that “education and human capital constitute the foundation for Anambra and former eastern region’s economic and social transformation in the first republic as well as the basis for its current performance despite having the smallest government expenditure in Nigeria”. The goal is to successfully transit to a post-oil and fourth industrial revolution, which can only be made possible by the quality of teachers and learning. According to the Soludo Manifesto, the present government aims to develop the competence of teachers in the state and restore teaching as a profession of pride, develop rigorous quality assurance in private and public schools, among others.
Governor Soludo is of the opinion that if one wants to assess the future, one can do so by assessing the quality of teachers and teaching. Little wonder the governor took it upon his administration to recruit five thousand (5000) teachers into the system, to eliminate and end the era of schools without teachers. While it is worthy to note that hardly would one see an event of such magnitude go on without unforeseeable circumstance, the entire process can be adjudged as transparent and credible.
One may then begin to ask why Governor Soludo embarked on such venture; more so, something that characterizes the end of successive administrations in states of the federation – usually state governors conduct recruitment exercise towards the end of their tenure. The answer is that Governor Soludo has good and genuine intention for Anambra and that he understands that improvement in public education is key to development of the state. After all, the vision is to build a liveable and prosperous smart megacity – one that is the preferred destination to live, learn, work, invest, relax and enjoy. And so, barely eight months in office, in addition to other key foundational issues and achievements which are
simultaneously going on through the five pillars of his government, Governor Soludo hosted a historic event, to ceremoniously hand over appointment letters to the potential teachers.
The International Convention Center, Awka, venue of the event was filled up with young teachers whose feeling of excitement dominantly rented the air. Two thousand five hundred (2,500) teachers were recruited each into primary and secondary school systems.
For Governor Soludo, it is a promise kept which ties to their position on the People’s Manifesto where he assured to “position Anambra as a centre of excellence for human capital development and proactively leapfrog Anambra students and youths as Africa’s digital tribe”; to develop a robust human capital that is productive at home and exportable abroad. The teachers’ recruitment is an effort to get Anambra schools to continue to meet the best possible pupil or students-teacher ratio.
In addition, the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration understands what it means when teachers are empowered to work; that the teaching profession is the most important as everyone was once taught by a teacher and he is ever ready to do all within his power, to provide the needed resources. During the event, the Governor muted his administration’s plan of equipping the teachers with lifelong learning tools and certification – a march towards professionalism.
From start to finish, the recruitment process was laced with merit and was used to put an end to the phenomenon of giving “slots” to highly placed people to nominate people. In fact, even the Governor himself didn’t have a slot.
Commendations must be accorded to the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, Chairpersons of PPSSC and ASUBEB and their members as well as staff for affording themselves as instruments for this great work.
With the future of the next generation of Anambra children in the hands of the newly recruited teachers, it is expected that they perform optimally, exhibiting Anambra as the centre of excellence.
Education is basically a collective effort. Everyone should come onboard and contribute their own quota, through the Public-Community-Private-Partnership developmental initiative. Perhaps by adopting a school or as little as purchasing a pencil for a pupil or student in your area.
Ndị Anambra! The Solution is here! A new Anambra is here. It’s time. Let’s work together.
Written by EJIKE ABANA/
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