By Vincent Ujumadu

ANAMBRA State has surpassed the national recommendation for pupil-teacher ratio following the present administration’s massive recruitment of teachers at both the primary and secondary school levels.

The administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo has so far employed 8300 teachers since coming into office about two and half years ago. The national policy on education prescribes a student-teacher ratio of one to 25 for pre-primary classes, one to 35 for primary and one to 40 for secondary schools.
But speaking during the 3rd edition of the IG Aguowo Health and Academic Foundation Educational Seminar and the 5th phase of the scholarship award ceremony in Awka, the state Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma – Udeh gave the state pupil-teacher ratio as one for 24 for primary and one for 28 for secondary schools.
She commended the founder of IG Aguowo Health and Academic Foundation, Ichie IG Aguowo for giving succour to hundreds of Nigerian students through his Foundation.

At the ceremony, sIX hundred and seventy students from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT were awarded scholarships.

The latest award ceremony had an additional 250 students drawn from secondary schools, tertiary institutions and Schools of Nursing.

Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs. Gloria Abanihe said the organization had demonstrated remarkable dedication to their studies and a profound commitment to their personal growth and development while ensuring that they keep faith in their desire for better education.

Abanihe said in addition to the scholarships, the Foundation places a large number of indigent people on monthly stipends and pays hospital bills for several needy persons.

She said: “The IG Aguowo Health and Academic Foundation was established with clear vision, which is to bridge the educational gap and provide opportunities for talented and deserving students to achieve their dreams.

“We firmly believe that education is the cornerstone of a prosperous and equitable society. It is the key that unlocks the door to a brighter future, not just for individuals, but for the entire communities and our nation at large.

“Our Foundation’s mission had always been driven by the core values of excellence, integrity, equality and service to humanity.

“The scholarship programme is more than just a financial award; it is an investment for the future. By providing these scholarships, we are not only alleviating the financial burden on deserving students and their families, but we are also encouraging a culture of academic rigour, perseverance and community service. 

“Our scholars are chosen not just for their academic achievements, but for their character, resoluteness and their potential to become change-makers in society.

” As we look ahead, we are filled with optimism and determination. We are committed to scaling up our efforts, reaching more students and creating more opportunities for educational advancement in Nigeria.

” The challenges are enormous, but we are resolute in our belief that with the continued support of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the sky is our limit”.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Miss Faith Mazi said the scholarship is not a financial aid to them, but a beacon of hope, a pathway to realizing their dreams and a testament to the power of compassion and community support.

“For many of us, this scholarship has removed a significant burden. The current economic challenges in Nigeria have made it difficult for many families to afford quality education. 

” If not for this scholarship, many of us would have faced tremendous obstacles in securing our school fees, textbooks and essential resources needed for our studies. The scholarship has given us the opportunity to pursue our academic goals without constant worry of financial constraints,” she said.