WE MUST REINVENT DISCIPLINE, DILIGENCE IN OUR POST-PRIMARY
SCHOOLS, GOVERNOR IFEANYI UGWUANYI VOWS
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| The governor of Enugu state (3rd left), in a group photograph with the newly inaugurated members of Post Primary School Management Board, at Govt. House, Enugu. |
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has inaugurated a
six-member newly reconstituted Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB)
with a charge to the members to arrest
the decline in discipline in secondary schools in the state.
The board members are Barr. Nestor Ezeme, Chairman, Messrs
Obi Kama and Clement Inyaba members, Mrs. Obiageli Theresa Igwesi and Mrs.
Veronica Ezeugwu are part-time members with Mrs. Favour Ugwuanyi the Permanent
Secretary of the board as Secretary.
It was an occasion when the chairman of the new school board
called on Governor Ugwuanyi to declare a state of emergency on computer education
in the secondary school system in the state in view of the obvious lack of
computer literacy among the greater population of the students.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion of the inauguration
of the board members at the Government House, Enugu, Governor Ugwuanyi
enjoined them “to instill in the teachers and other workers, a new sense of
discipline, diligence and responsibility that should reflect on the performance
and character of their students”.
The governor warned that “government would no longer
tolerate inefficiency, redundancy, nonchalance and any unnecessary but harmful
squabbles and intrigues both in the board and in schools”.
In his words, “we would therefore in this regard expect an
instant and significant improvement in the performance of our children in WAEC,
NECO, JAMB and other external examinations.”
The governor affirmed that the state government is already
taking steps to renovate and upgrade facilities and other instructional
materials to enhance teaching and learning.
He added that government has taken pains to select them
believing they are eminently qualified and capable of driving its reforms in
education for the interest of the children and society at large.
“It is my expectation that the board will take a cue from
this to embark on measures that would bring about a visible and enduring
transformation in the secondary education sector in Enugu State,”
he said.
In a response on-behalf of the board members, the Chairman,
Barr. Nestor Ezeme expressed immense gratitude to the governor for finding them
worthy to serve. He assured the
readiness of the committee to deliver.
In his words, “under my watch, the era for bribe for position in the board
is over as it will not be business as usual.”
According to the Chairman, the State Post Primary School
Management Board is housing over eleven thousand staff and the governor has not
owed staff salaries, adding that the state government spends over six hundred
million on emolument for teachers monthly showcasing the enormity of the
committee’s job.
The Chairman observed that teachers are recruited en-masse
and retired en-masse year in year out, but wondered why bills of teachers are
on the increase even when people are retiring and people are transferring
services and others joining their ancestors.
He added that the committee would partner the state
Accountant General’s office and Ministry of Finance to know what is wrong.
He noted that a review of educational system in the state
had shown that the different between children at the public and private schools
is that those of private schools are computer literate which makes them to be
courageous in facing their external examinations. He added, “May I seek your permission to
declare a state of emergency on computer literacy in public schools in the
state.”