Education Board chair harps on funding
By Peter Okutu
ABAKALIKI—THE Universal Basic Education Board, UBEB, Ebonyi State , has stated that considering the enormous benefits that go with the acquisition of education in any country, no amount plunged into the sector should be regarded as a wasted undertaking.
Chairman of UBEB Ebonyi State, Chief Thomas Eze, who made this observation Wednesday at the commencement of state level training of UBE Self-Help Project Implementation Committees and official take-off of UBE 2009 Community Initiated Projects, added that 119 communities had been selected to benefit from the self-help projects across the state.
He urged the Project Implementation Committee members and stakeholders in the education sector to face the challenges of school development in their localities with all brevity, cooperation and unity of purpose, adding that UBE would do everything in its powers to ensure adequate provision of all that was needed for effective delivery of quality education in the state.
Eze applauded the Elechi-led government in the state for its free and compulsory education policies, adding that the introduction of Community Initiative Self-Help Project by the UBE will play complementary role, as individual communities across the state build blocks, toilets, hundreds of seats in their various schools.
He said: “The increased enrolment occasioned by the free and compulsory education policy of the Elechi-led administration has continually placed pressure on the existing infrastructure in our schools, hence no amount of money plunged into this sector could be said to be wasted.
“We, therefore, acknowledge and appreciate the gesture of the Universal Basic Education Commission in providing the counter-part fund for these projects which is aimed at alleviating the accommodation problem plaguing our pupils.
“These have greatly complemented the efforts of SUBEB and the state government in the provision of infrastructure. It is worthy of note to mention that a total of 119 communities have been selected for the 2009 UBE Community Initiated Self-help Projects across the state.
“May I use this opportunity to call for co-operative partnership between communities, UBEC, SUBEB, and all stakeholders in the management of Primary education in the State.
“May I also appeal to the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in the state to rededicate themselves towards creating a greater understanding and co-operation between communities and school facilities in the location through ensuring of adequate security measures as government will not tolerate any act of vandalism.”
