By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
A non-governmental organization (NGO), Whisper to Humanity, has intensified its call for reforms in Ebonyi State’s education sector, advocating for improved learning conditions for students and teachers.
This was made known during a visit to the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Awo Nwoabasi, at his office in Abakaliki, where the group submitted a position paper outlining their vision for a more effective education system.
The engagement, which brought together 47 educators and students from 10 secondary schools, was part of a three-day capacity-building program aimed at identifying key challenges in the education system and proposing solutions.
Speaking, Executive Director of Whisper to Humanity, Mary Jacob Okwuosa, emphasized the urgent need to make learning more engaging, practical, and inclusive.
“We believe in an education system where students are excited to go to school. Our advocacy focuses on ensuring that learning is not just theoretical but also practical. One of our major demands is the employment of more teachers and non-academic staff, such as security officers and librarians.
“We are also advocating for curriculum reforms to integrate entrepreneurial and digital skills that will better prepare students for the modern world,” Okwuosa stated.
She noted that Whisper to Humanity has been actively advocating for education reforms across eight states in Nigeria, including Abuja, Ebonyi, Imo, Cross River, Abia, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Akwa Ibom.
Responding to the demands, Prof. Nwoabasi assured the delegation that the state government is committed to enhancing education standards.
He acknowledged the high turnover rate of teachers, which disrupts learning, and revealed that the government had put a policy in place to ensure principals remain in a school for at least four years and teachers for five years before being transferred.
On infrastructure, the commissioner disclosed that ₦800 million has been allocated for the renovation of public schools, with priority given to the most dilapidated institutions across the three senatorial zones of the state.
“The last time Ebonyi State employed teachers was 13 years ago. Now, we are employing about 2,000 teachers, and after employment, they will undergo training to align with modern teaching standards,” Nwoabasi stated.
He further stressed the importance of equipping students with technical and vocational skills, urging them to embrace digital literacy, robotics, data analysis, and other emerging fields that align with global trends.
One of the students from State Special Secondary School, Opefia, Izzi LGA, Master William Chizi, expressed gratitude to the commissioner for engaging with them and appealed for teachers to be equipped with the necessary skills to help students develop critical thinking abilities and compete effectively on a global scale.