Michael Ezenwata :
Primary and Post Primary schools in Anambra state have resumed for the 2024/2025 academic session with great expectations to achieve academic/ non academic excellence.
The enthusiasm to achieve more is the product and commitment of Governor Chukwuma Soludo who has demonstrated his uncommon and unwavering passion to give priority to the education sector.
To mention but a few, the recent recruitment of teachers in the Primary and Post Primary Schools in the state and the practicalization of the free education policy from the nursery to the junior secondary schools cadre and partial free education in the secondary schools cadre are verifiable realities.
The Press visited St. John of God Secondary School Awka where it was confirmed that the teachers and students were present and resumption tests in progress.
According to the Manager of the College Rev. Father Malachy Maduewesi in a press interview, the college founded in 1964 has perfected plans to build a new administrative block to house the Manager’s office, Principal’s office and other vital offices.
Father Maduewesi spoke of the commitment of the college to promote excellence and ideals in all ramifications that will uplift the status of the college.
The Principal of the college Lady Joy Nwafor okayed the resumption strength of both staff and students of the college and listed some of the challenges facing the college to include erosion which is being tackled by the college through landscaping,and the Principal’s office which needs to be upgraded.
At the Girls Secondary School Awka,the Principal of the College, Dr Mrs Ndidi Okeke told the press that teachers and students resumed fully and the resumption tests in progress.
Dr. Okeke spoke of the commitment of her administration towards ensuring that the boarders in the school are well fed and the moral standard in the College upheld with zero tolerance to idolatry which is in vogue among many youths in the society.
According to the Principal, the College is preparing assiduously to participate in the forthcoming October 1st Match past with the assistance of a human Kinetic expert from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Campus, expecting that the college will take the first position as usual.
The Press further visited the Community Secondary School Umuokpu where it was confirmed that teachers and students resumed appreciably for the new academic session.
According to the Principal of the College Mrs. Gloria Aratoke in a press statement, the teachers recorded over 84% in attendance and were present to register the new intakes in the College.
Given the huge influx of new intakes due to the free education policy of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mrs. Aratoke called for the building of more classrooms to accommodate the new intakes.
She commended governor Soludo for the recruitment of 17 new teachers in the school to augment the existing 45 staff strength of the college and further asked for the erection of more classroom blocks and the purchase of more tables and chairs to accommodate the new intakes.
At the Comprehensive Technical and Science College Nawfia, the teachers and students resumed in earnest for classes while the new Principal of the college Venerable Dr. Enendu who took over from Venerable Clement Mgbemena, was seen in his office when the press visited the college.
The story was the same at the Igwebuike Grammar school Awka where the Principal of the college Mr. Jovita Arazu told the press that teachers and students resumed in earnest for the day’s business.
In a related development and still on children/youth affairs in line with the recent celebration of the international youth day preceding schools resumption, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Anambra state Dr. Mrs. Ego Uzoezie called for the reorientation of youths to ameliorate their involvement in drug abuse and the intervention of parents to engage in the proper upbringing of their children to shun idolatry rampant among youths in the society.
On his part, the Anambra state Chairman of the Association of community Pharmacists, Pharmacist Henry Iloh called for the empowerment of youths to dissuade them from indulgence in the abuse of illicit drugs.
