School Enrollment: Abia Govt to Recruit Additional 4, 000 Teachers

Additional four thousand teachers will be recruited in Abia State to measure up with the upsurge in the enrollment of pupils and students in the basic public schools.

Governor Alex Otti disclosed this on Friday, during a dinner organized in honour of former President Olusegun Obasanjo at Government House Umuahia.

Otti attributed the increase in the number of enrollees to the introduction of free and compulsory education in primary and Junior Secondary School by his administration since January this year.

He revealed that the taskforce set up to enforce the education policy has not arrested any child since the launch as people were willing to embrace education without enforcement.

He said that he is passionate about child education, especially that of the poor, hence the need to hire extra teachers to contain the number of students’ enrollment.

“On implementation of the policy, we recorded massive explosion on enrollment. In fact, when I saw the numbers on Monday at the EXCO meeting, I was moved to increase the number of teachers that we will be recruiting.

“Why am I passionate about this? I come from a very poor home and if I didn’t have the opportunity to go to public schools, I won’t be here with you today.

“I want every child in this State to have the same opportunities that I had. The son of a poor man can become someone tomorrow just because of that opportunity.”

He said he equally approved and provided N100,000 for principals and head teachers as imprest account to enable them have the basic things required to run their schools .

Governor Otti commended Chief Obasanjo for standing behind him from the inception of his aspiration to join politics till now.

In his speech, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo commended the performance of Governor Otti, describing him as a leader who is living up to the expectations in the delivery of good governance.