Breaking The Dynasty Of Poverty Through Access To Quality Education: Soludo Extends Free Education To Senior Students 

IZUCHUKWU ADICHIE 

Like Lateef Jakande’s Lagos, the two years in office of Governor Soludo have brought about an accelerated transformation in the public education sector. With a commitment to breaking the dynasty of poverty, he has provided access to quality basic education to all children born in the state. This has been made possible through the establishment of the Anambra State Education Advisory Council for the first time in history of the state to provide a clear direction for the state’s education policy, the reconstitution of; the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, and the Post Primary Schools Service Commission.

Moreover, Soludo became the first Governor in the Southeast and in Anambra State to declare compulsory and fully free education from Nursery schools to Junior Secondary Schools and has now expanded the free education to all public Senior Secondary Schools to completely bridge the inequality gap between rich and the weakest link.

Recognizing that quality teachers produce quality students, the administration made history in Nigeria by becoming the first in the nation’s history to employ 8,115 teachers through merit-based recruitment processes. This has effectively put an end to classrooms without teachers and the past practice of recruitment being done at the end of eight years in office, driven by favoritism and nepotism.

Soludo also granted “Mission – Public Basic Schools,” a N1.52 billion subvention fund, and has continued to pay the salaries of teachers posted to the Returned Schools demonstrating his commitment to the basic education. Soludo’s free education policy has resulted in a significant increase in the enrollment of pupils and students in public primary and secondary schools. The impact of the policy has been positive.

The state government, through ASUBEB and PPSSC, is currently addressing infrastructure by rebuilding, upgrading, and equipping public schools to provide a conducive learning environment. The administration has recently initiated independent index and performance ranking for public schools and promotion interviews for teachers and non-teaching staff due for promotion. Since he assumed office, Soludo has prioritized timely promotions and has made progress in paying salaries, pensions, and gratuities of teachers.

Under Soludo’s administration, Anambra schools, teachers, and students have continued to win national and international awards. The administration’s assertive policies have brought about significant improvements in the education sector, and it is committed to doing more to ensure that every child in Anambra State has access to quality and competitive education.