ABIA 2023: APP’s Mascot Pledges Reintroduction Of Model, Special Schools System If Elected
By Charity Uwakwe
EDUCATION: The government of Mascot Uzor Kalu says if elected, it will prioritize educational development in the state through the following ways:
FREE AND COMPULSORY BASIC SCHOOL EDUCATION
Primary and secondary school. This will only be available to pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools. Teachers welfare will be enhanced, through recruitment of qualified teachers, training and retraining of existing ones to enhance their capacity and prompt payment of salaries. As a matter of fact, salaries of teachers and other civil servants shall be paid between 25th and 29th of every month.
REINTRODUCTION OF THE MODEL AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS SYSTEM
Recall the government of Chief Sam Mbakwe of blessed memory introduced the model and special system in the old Imo state. Model schools were selected secondary schools from each of the Senatorial zones in the Imo state that served as flagship schools of the state then, while special schools were selected from each LGA. These schools were given special attention in terms of funding, infrastructure, learning facilities, laboratory equipment, etc. Some of the model schools in the past were, Government College Umuahia, Holy Rosary, Umuahia, National High School, Aba, Ovom Girls, Govt Coll, Owerri, Owerri Girls etc. These Schools represented the state in major National and international competitions and brought laurels to the state. The Government of Sir Mascot Uzor Kalu intends to bring back this arrangement with a view to improving the competitive standards of our public schools compared to some of the private schools. This does not in anyway mean that other schools will be neglected.
REGULAR INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS
The Ministry of Education will be empowered with necessary laws and tools to resume their oversight functions of school inspections and supervision of both private and public schools to ensure minimum standards are met. To this end, we shall introduce quality control unit to implement, monitor and ensure compliance to Government education policies and programs.
TERTIARY EDUCATION
The four state Government owned tertiary instructions – Abia State University Uturu, Abia State Polytechnic Aba, Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu and Abia State College of Health Sciences, Aba shall receive prompt attention. A committee will be set up to look both the remote and immediate causes bedeviling these institutions with a view to finding lasting solutions for them. Appointments of VCs, Rectors, Provost’s and other principal officers shall be merit based as experience, competence, character and capacity shall be the key criteria. Our government will negotiate with the various unions on how to gradually offset the outstanding salaries and allowances in installments.
