By Chinedum Treasure
Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has restated his commitment to surpass any other State government in Nigeria in the welfare of teachers.
He said a process to pay the national minimum wage to civil servants in the state has been put in place.
The Governor spoke through Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh during the 2024 Annual Retreat for Principals organized by through the Post Primary Schools Service Commission, in conjunction with Ministry of Education at Okpuno, in Awka South local government area.
Addressing 267 principals gathered for the retreat, Chuma-Udeh commended the principals for their support to Governor Soludo’s agenda in the education sector.
She reminded them that the school premises were not meant for unauthorized activities, just as she charged them to insist their students were properly dressed within the dress code of state schools.
She further urged the principals to promptly inform the ministry of any issue of land encroachment in their schools.
Member representing Anaocha constituency II in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Sir Ejike Okechukwu who described teaching as a noble profession ordained by God, revealed that the Governor meant well for teachers and other civil servants.
“There is a process already on ground for payment of minimum wage. The House of Assembly is waiting for the budget as government cannot spend outside the budget,” he added.
Chairman Post Primary Schools Service Commission, Prof Nkechi Ikediugwu urged principals to take full advantage of the annual principals retreat to restore the light to their various schools.
She explained that the theme, “Empowering Principals for Effective Discipline and Academic Excellence in Anambra State Secondary Schools”, was approved by the commission as a platform to address various problems discovered during its monitoring and supervision exercise particularly in the last one year after the previous retreat.
“The weeklong retreat is targeted at equipping principals on what it takes to provide effective and proactive leadership needed in Anambra Schools.
“Getting it right with the principals amounts to getting all things right in managing Schools,” she said.
She appreciated the Governor for placing high premium on education through huge investments in the sector, Commissioner for Education for taking the education ministry to an enviable height as well as other stakeholders whose efforts assisted in the success of the retreat.
Earlier, Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Vera Nwadinobi described the retreat as a time for stock-taking and reassessment saying that disciplined principals breed disciplined teachers and students.
She appreciated Governor Soludo for giving the Commission and ASUBEB the approvals to hold the retreat for principals and headteachers.
Resource persons for the retreat included Professors Vivian Nwagbo, Tagbo Ibeneme, Naomi Samuel and Dr Ngozi Agbasimalo.
