Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha is Nigeria's second female Professor of Mass Communication. She was appointed Anambra State Commissioner for Education on April 10, 2014 by Governor Willie Obiano, having been head, Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka and the immediate-past Director, UNIZIK Fm.
In this maiden interview after her appointment, Omenugha, who is a motivational speaker and Nigeria's first Professor of Gender and Communication, bares her mind on the 10-year Rolling Plan of the current administration and how Anambra will sustain its status as the best state in national examinations conducted by bodies like the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO).
BY IKENNA ASOMBA
BY IKENNA ASOMBA
SO far, what is your assessment of education in Anambra State, considering that the state beat 36 other states including the Federal Capital Territory to come tops at the 2013 exams conducted by WAEC and the NECO?
Well, we were sworn in on April 10, and what we have been trying to do is hand over and take over; know the rules guiding the ministry; do some form of familiarisation and read up a lot of files.
Well, we were sworn in on April 10, and what we have been trying to do is hand over and take over; know the rules guiding the ministry; do some form of familiarisation and read up a lot of files.
Even though, there are still some challenges, the education system in Anambra State is actually working well in a number of ways. I am impressed that when I call for one file or one thing or the other, it is readily available. The ministry works in synergy with parastatals like the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and the Post-Primary School Board (PPSB).
I just had a meeting with the chair of the PPSB, and our target is to have 90 per cent pass rate. I must say we have the enabling environment to achieve it because the immediate past administration has done so well. It equipped the primary and secondary schools. It did a lot of renovation, all the schools are wearing a new look. It even returned mission schools to their rightful owners. If you go to those schools that were returned, you will see a lot of difference, a lot of change.
Improved morals
You will see the beauty of education and improved morals on the part of the children. Our administration has to do a lot of monitoring to ensure that these facilities are used properly and that they are not underutilised.
You will see the beauty of education and improved morals on the part of the children. Our administration has to do a lot of monitoring to ensure that these facilities are used properly and that they are not underutilised.
Training
Right now, we are training some teachers, who are ICT instructors. We have engaged them in what is called Training-of-the-Trainer (ToT), we are currently training those who will go back and train the other persons in the zones.
Right now, we are training some teachers, who are ICT instructors. We have engaged them in what is called Training-of-the-Trainer (ToT), we are currently training those who will go back and train the other persons in the zones.
Also, within my ministry, we have the Schools Department in charge of private schools and having oversight functions of what is done in ASUBEB and the PPSB. We have the Higher Technical section which is in charge of the universities and the technical schools such as the College of Education, Nsugbe and the Anambra State University, Uli, now Odumegwu Ojukwu University.
As for technical schools, we currently have about 11, but only two are accredited, that is one area we are going to work on, to make sure the other nine get fully accredited.
The governor, Dr. Willie Obiano has also talked about vocational schools, because we are interested in agriculture. We want to have an institution where Anambra youths will be trained at affordable cost.
The governor, Dr. Willie Obiano has also talked about vocational schools, because we are interested in agriculture. We want to have an institution where Anambra youths will be trained at affordable cost.
Also within the ministry, there are exams unit, a section in charge of non-formal education, and a section in charge of research. So, the sector is well organised and as a ministry, we try to carry everybody along and relate well with all stakeholders.
Anambra people, home and abroad, will like to know your plans towards moving the state's education to a higher pedestal…
Practically, because I came in at a time when we are in the news for coming first in WAEC and NECO exams, it is really a big challenge for us to maintain that first position and aim for a higher percentage. We already have a 10-year Rolling Plan for education and if you look at the vision of our governor, he has said that education is one of the enablers that will help him get to where he is going.
Practically, because I came in at a time when we are in the news for coming first in WAEC and NECO exams, it is really a big challenge for us to maintain that first position and aim for a higher percentage. We already have a 10-year Rolling Plan for education and if you look at the vision of our governor, he has said that education is one of the enablers that will help him get to where he is going.
He has also talked about oil and gas, agriculture, industrialisation and security. One of the things he is actually out to do is to ensure that Anambra State is open for investors to come in, that is why he is currently clamping down on every form of criminality in the state.
Miracle centres
In the Education sector, we are keying into the vision of the governor. We want to fight every kind of malpractice in education. We want to run a system that will be transparent. We want to see how we can minimize to a great extent the so-called miracle centres. If the governor wants to reposition Anambra State as a crime-free state, we do not have an option than to key in.
In the Education sector, we are keying into the vision of the governor. We want to fight every kind of malpractice in education. We want to run a system that will be transparent. We want to see how we can minimize to a great extent the so-called miracle centres. If the governor wants to reposition Anambra State as a crime-free state, we do not have an option than to key in.
Filthy environment
The governor has also talked about fighting filth. We live in a filthy environment. Most times you will see people eating in terrible places unconcerned. We are, therefore, beginning to clean up Anambra State and within the next 50 days, you will see a viable Anambra State. We are keying in. We are setting up a reward mechanism to give prizes to the cleanest schools, to be called Excellence Award in Cleanliness.
The governor has also talked about fighting filth. We live in a filthy environment. Most times you will see people eating in terrible places unconcerned. We are, therefore, beginning to clean up Anambra State and within the next 50 days, you will see a viable Anambra State. We are keying in. We are setting up a reward mechanism to give prizes to the cleanest schools, to be called Excellence Award in Cleanliness.
We need to do this because education is so pivotal that if you are talking about a clean environment, you have to get it into the psyche of the children in the 10-year rolling plan.
Child's rights law
Another thing the Ministry of Education is trying to do is to work closely with the Ministry of Women Affairs to ensure that the Child Rights Law can be enforced. We don't see why our children should be allowed to carry wares as hawkers during school hours. So, we are working on enforcing this law to ensure that our children stay in school, so that we can reduce the rate of school drop-outs.
Another thing the Ministry of Education is trying to do is to work closely with the Ministry of Women Affairs to ensure that the Child Rights Law can be enforced. We don't see why our children should be allowed to carry wares as hawkers during school hours. So, we are working on enforcing this law to ensure that our children stay in school, so that we can reduce the rate of school drop-outs.
No Anambra child must be seen again carrying wares or hawking during school hours. The way we are planning it is that from Monday to Friday, we don't want to see any child on the road. We believe when a child comes back from school, such child should be given time to rest and study. We will enforce this policy to stop parents from sending their children to hawk wares during school hours.