By Cajetan Mmuta
The Commissioner for basic education in Anambra state, Professor Kate Omenugha, on Thursday, said the collaboration between public-private education programmes has helped to revive reading culture, improve education and literacy level along with pupils and students in the state.
Omenugha stated this during the ceremony tagged: “A Day with Education Builders and Award Ceremony”, which was part of activities to mark 30 years of the creation of Anambra held in Awka the state capital.
She explained that the state government’s partnership with private individuals and groups had greatly boosted education programmes, quality of teaching and learning in schools.
The commissioner noted that the contributions improved student’s performance and made Anambra schools win national and global competitions as well as awards.
“Today provides the opportunity to say a big thank you to great individuals and groups who have over the years helped to build education with their numerous contributions.
“A lot of you have supported the government to provided toilet facilities, train teachers, build classrooms, equip laboratories and libraries and sponsored school debates, sports and other programmes.
“One of our awardees – Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries (ZODML) has established and equipped many libraries across primary and secondary schools in the state.
“This gesture by ZODML has helped to revive the dwindling reading culture to eliminate illiteracy, keep history afresh and help out students to be abreast of developments around the globe,” she said.
According to her, the Ministry had prepared a handbook titled ‘A Guide to Public-Private Collaboration Initiatives/Intervention in Schools’ to provide partway for intending partners.
She called on well-meaning individuals and organisations to support Gov. Willie Obiano’ s administration in the quest to take the education sector to an enviable level in the state.
Speaking on an award on her, Chief Executive Officer of ZODML, Mrs Ego Mgbagwu said the idea of establishing libraries was informed by the growing need to acquire knowledge, especially among youths in the country.
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She described education as the bedrock of development in any society, even as she stressed the important role of the library in students’ academic excellence and lifelong learning process and self-education.
“There is also the need to assist public primary and secondary schools students who might not be able to afford the required relevant books due to financial constraints.
“We thank Anambra State Ministry for Basic Education for the award of recognition. This award will motivate us at ZODML to do more in the education sector,” she stated.
