Ikpeazu inaugurates Abia Model Schools, digital teaching programme

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Thursday inaugurated the Abia Model Basic Schools and Digital Teaching Programme as part of his administration’s efforts to improve the standard of education in the state.

Speaking during the inauguration of Abia Model Basic School, Osusu-Amaukwa, in Obingwa Local Government Area, Ikpeazu said that education remained a vital contributor in the transformation agenda of the state government.

The governor said that it was pertinent to prioritise teaching and learning as it was at the foundation of everything in the society.

He said that the decision to set up the model schools and commence a digital learning programme across the state was informed by the desire to provide a world class learning experience for Abian children.

Ikpeazu urged the teachers to use the equipment effectively, adding that the availability of good teachers, content and infrastructure would produce excellent outcome in improving the standard of education.

He said that it was the desire of the state government for every child in Abia to be Information Communication Technology (ICT)-compliant.

“Our expectation is that in the next two to four years the products of the model schools will shine forth in Nigeria and rank topmost in education.

“We want every student from Abia to pass through this digital programme and excel in their educational pursuit and career,” Ikpeazu added.

In his speech, Chief Emma Ukwu, the Commissioner for Basic Education, described the project as a fulfillment of the state government’s objective to transform education from analogue to digital.

Ukwu said that this was part of the efforts of the state government to provide an avenue for Abia schools to be equipped with teaching materials that would enhance the quality of graduates produced in Abia.

In his address, Mr Josiah Anonaba, the Chairman of Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) said that the model schools were designed to provide a child-friendly learning environment.

Anonaba said that the state government had built five model schools in the three senatorial zones of the state to serve as a standard for public and private schools to follow.

He said that the schools would serve as a platform that would provide an ICT-based environment that would expose school children to a multimedia experience for qualitative education.

Earlier, Mr Nwuna Onwukwe, the Principal of Junior Secondary School of Abia Model Basic School Osusu-Amaukwa, said that the projects would yield unprecedented development in the education sector.

“We assure that we will continue to align our programme and input with the state government’s education road map,” Onwukwe said.