![A view of the new construction at the Girl Secondary. The new construction began in March 2013 and has reached near completion [over 80% completion]](https://247ureports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/IMG-20130707-00110-800x599.jpg)
As reports make the rounds about how dilapidated schools in Abia state have become, 247ureports.com investigations revealed that such reports are far from the true position of affairs in the educational sector of the state.
A visit to some of the schools in Aba zone revealed that new structures are springing up daily while old ones are being renovated speedily. Information and Communication centres are also being established to enable teachers and students catch up with the emerging information superhighway. Abia state government has embarked on a move to give a facelift to most schools in the zone.
According to a source at the Aba zonal Education Board who spoke on the condition of anonymity, “There have been massive efforts to improve structures in most schools in the zone. I commend Gov. Theodore Orji for this. Before the development, the situation was terrible; teachers taught under trees and leaking roofs. Most parents even withdrew their children from public schools particularly because of the dilapidated structures. Take a visit to some schools in Aba zone, there are lots of structures being erected while others have witnessed a facelift. We appreciate the state government for its timely intervention.”
When our correspondent visited the Abayi Girls secondary school, Aba, it was discovered that a gigantic one storey building comprising twenty classroom blocks was being erected at a fast rate. According to a billboard mounted at the school compound, the building whose foundation was laid three months ago is almost nearing completion as the contractors toil daily to execute the work.
247Ureports.com Investigations further revealed that such projects are being funded from the SURE-P fund of the state government. The fund is said to have brought great relief to the move by the Abia state government to give a facelift to schools in the state. Education is one of the key areas where Gov. Orji’s administration has taken radical steps to restore its glory.
On completion of the project, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) centre is to be opened in one of the blocks to improve the knowledge of teachers and students about ICT.
On Gov. Orji’s directive, The Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC) is also said to have embarked on the rehabilitation of 78 primary and secondary schools in Aba zone alone. Renovation of dilapidated buildings of both the primary and secondary schools is a policy which the governor has sustained since he assumed office. As present, the State Government has embarked on construction and reconstruction of over 154 classroom blocks, in both the primary and secondary schools across the 17 LGAs in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
To boost the capacity of teachers, Government has invested heavily in organizing workshops, conferences and seminars to enhance productivity and expose them to the modern teaching methods. Surely, the better times are here for schools in Abia state.
According to the Abia State government, in talking to 247ureports.com through the Chief Press Secretary, Ugo Emezue, “Gov. Orji is embarking on such projects to enhance the future of our youths through sound education. Being an education friendly Governor, he is investing so much in education of the youths who are tomorrow’s leaders. He wants to provide a conducive learning environment for them to actually concentrate and make good grades. He has always maintained that education is a priority to him hence no regrets in the funds being spent in that sector”.
