By Okey Alozie
Barr. Juliet N. Okafor, the Executive Chairman, Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB) has praised Governor Rochas Okorocha for his numerous achievements especially in the field of Education since he came on board in 2011.
The IMSUBEB boss made this commendation in a chat with newsmen in her office located along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri on Friday. According to her, the governor has made very significant impact in Imo State in all ramifications, adding that free education policy has been sustained by the Rescue Mission Administration for more than seven (7) years now.
“This policy, has not only impacted immensely on the lives of the entire Imolites and beyond, but also, it is a pointer to the fact that the Rescue Mission Government is undoubtedly peoples’ oriented and life transforming”, she submitted.
Speaking further, she disclosed that Governor Okorocha’s passion and determination to continually improve the standard of education in the State is unequal and commendable.
She therefore praised the massive construction and renovation of schools across the State, adequate welfare of teachers and learners among other landmark projects and programmes.
The IMSUBEB boss who was poetic during the media interaction said all over the world, Governor Okorocha is known as an icon of free education.
She added that with the introduce on and sustenance of the free education programme, Imo State is now placed at an enviable position in Africa. She maintained rat learners in Imo State now go to school free of charge to every level.
The workaholic woman revealed that all workers in the Board are happy with the governor and have congratulated him on his giant strides especially in the promotion and development of education. She used the opportunity to inform the public that the board will on Tuesday, 30th of October, 2018 hole Education Advocacy at the Imo Trade and Investment Centre Owerri
According to her, the auspicious event which starts by 10am is designed to bring together the government functionaries, traditional rulers teachers, learners, parents and other stakeholders in education so as to brainstorm on ways to continually enhance and sustain the free education programme in the State,
Barr. Juliet Okafor explained that Education Advocacy is entirely centred on the promotion of free education.
In her words, “His Excellency, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha has done tremendously with particularly his extension of free education to all levels. This is one of the manifestations of the rescue mission programmes which the opposition thought was impossible to achieve. Today, it is not only a reality but has positively affected all Imolites. Indeed, Governor Okorocha has taken a holistic approach on this and everybody has gained from the free education policy”.
On the issue of learners, she hinted that before 2011, it was on record that learners were taught under the trees in some places, stressing that school enrolment was very poor but now the story is different, Our learners now have edifices built for them as schools.
She described Governor Okorocha as the man that sees tomorrow and urged the entire Imo people to support the Rescue Mission Government for consolidation and sustainability of this laudable initiative.
On the issue of enrolment in school, the IMSUBEB boss told journalists that over 1.6million school children are now in our basic education sector. Another achievement she mentioned was the regularization of over 4,500 Community Government Council (CGC) teachers.
On dress code, she informed the public that the dress code for Imo teachers is the brain child of His Excellency Owelle (Dr.) Anayo Rochas Okorocha (OON, SAM).
On the issue of capacity building, she revealed that the Teachers Professional Development is a key mandate if her office. She said that teachers in Imo State have embraced LT as they are being trained in computer study. Barr. Juliet revealed that the governor has provided enabling environment by building and equipping computers in the 27 LGA for teachers to step down the training to the teachers.
We observed that even the State Government has given total support to teachers training and centrally set examination. Most of the beneficiaries of the free education which started over seven (7) years ago have now graduated. Some now are working as Lawyers, bankers, Accountants, all praise to the ingenuity of His Excellency.
