The Ebonyi State School of Health, Ngbo, established around 2006 during the administration of former Governor Dr. Sam Egwu to train manpower for healthcare service delivery, has appealed for government support to improve its academic standards.
Findings revealed that the institution has continued to face challenges over the years, particularly in the areas of accreditation of some approved courses, inadequate accommodation, and lack of modern teaching and learning facilities needed to compete favourably with similar institutions across the country.
These challenges have reportedly affected the expected level of academic activities within the school and its environs. One of the major setbacks identified is the inability of the institution to adequately access funds allocated to it in the state’s annual budget, resulting in delays in the implementation of key developmental projects by the school management.
Some students who spoke to journalists, including Master Chidi Onwe, Master Michael Uchendu and Miss Nkechinyere Ikenna, appealed to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to extend his administration’s People’s Charter of Needs to the institution by addressing the outstanding needs of the school and students to enable them acquire quality training in their various departments.
The students also urged the state government, through the Ministry of Education, to intervene by ensuring that the remaining courses yet to be accredited are fully accredited in the interest of the students. They further called for improved budgetary allocation to the school to provide additional lecture halls, modern teaching and learning equipment, as well as more hostel accommodation.
Responding to questions from journalists, the newly appointed Provost of the institution, Princess Chetachi Chibueze Usulor, expressed gratitude to Governor Nwifuru for approving her appointment, assuring that she would work tirelessly to reposition the school and improve its academic profile.
Princess Chibueze-Usulor noted that the recent passage of a bill by the Ebonyi State House of Assembly upgrading the institution from the School of Health Ngbo to the College of Health Ngbo, within months of her assumption of office, reflected the commitment of the Nwifuru-led administration to the growth of the institution.
According to her, the upgrade would create opportunities for the college to benefit from federal government education intervention programmes for higher institutions through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). She disclosed that officials of the board are expected to visit the institution early next year for inspection.
The Provost appealed to the state government to sustain its support to ensure that the primary objective of the institution—strengthening healthcare service delivery in Ebonyi State and beyond—is fully realized. She also called on parents and guardians to seek admission for their children and wards into the institution to benefit from its improved and modernised academic environment