‘Abia First’ Education Initiative – The Changing face of Education in the new Abia under Gov. Otti
By Chukwuma Elvis
Abia ‘FIRST’ an acronym that stands for “Fostering Innovation Reforms for School Transformation” has become the centre piece of the governments effort for a comprehensive overhaul of education in the state. The Abia ‘First’ programme is focused on institutional reforms and schools transformation under a holistic approach. Already, two hundred lead master trainers and two thousand master teachers have been trained to drive the innovative reforms in this sector. These first set of beneficiaries will cascade the essence of these reforms to all other teacher’s in the state.
The Abia First education reform programme will focus on basic child care development, basic education enhancement, secondary school reform, technical and vocational education, digital learning integration, career education and community engagement.
This latest move is in line with the vision of Dr. Alex Otti to transform education in the state through reforms, innovation and inclusivity. At his inauguration, Gov. Otti declared a state of emergency in education owing to the decay in the sector following unprecedented neglect by previous administrations leading to a near total abandonment of public primary and post primary schools in the state.
Many parents in Abia withdrew their wards from public schools because of low standards arising from dilapidated infrastructure, low teacher enrolment and motivation amongst other negative indices which bedevilled the sector before the coming to office of the current administration.
Being an education friendly governor, with a clear understanding of the role the sector is to play in his transformational agenda, Gov. Otti decided for an overhaul of the sector captured in the launch of ‘Abia First education initiative’. This move is a comprehensive approach in reformation aimed at capturing curriculum upgrade, teacher training and upgrade, infrastructure development and evaluation.
In this quest the state government has engaged renowned consultants with vast experience in education reform and upgrade to meet 21st century demands. ERIT which stands for Education, Reform and Innovation Team identifies the consultants as a group of individuals with specialist knowledge in key areas necessary to comprehensively and effectively take on the education reform agenda as envisioned by Gov. Alex Otti for the benefit of Abians.
In the first instance on early childcare and development education, 200 schools and 2000 teachers were captured drawing a baseline for the scope of the reform agenda going forward in the process of reimagining education in the state. The Gov. says he intends for those who pass through Abia school system to be skilled participants in the global workforce and this vision calls for a radical forward thinking approach in ensuring Abia youths gain vital skills through education.
The ability to recognise a problem and muster the resolve to solve it marks a visionary leader apart from one out of tune with the need for structures and institutions which hold the fabric of society together to be protected. Gov. Otti while preparing for public office was already well aware of the need for reform in several critical sectors in Abia state such as education.
It is therefore no suprise that the reforms his government is embarking on in education at both the basic/secondary level and Tertiary level are far reaching and purposed to restructure education in Abia for all time.
Gov. Otti insists that you can not continue to teach Abia children the ‘pin-hole’ camera in today’s world ruled by Artificial Intelligence and expect them to compete favourably with their peers from other countries in the global job market.
The state government is on the verge of concluding the proposed engagement of over 5,000plus teachers to drive the Abia First programme. The 9,000 shortlisted candidates from an application list of close to 30,000 have undergone Computer Based Test in the last step of the process leading up to engagement as teachers to drive the new initiative in education reform at the primary and post primary level. This rigorous process will be concluded with an oral interview after which 5,000 successful candidates will be launched into the Abia state teaching workforce.
Governor Otti has emphasised that teachers will only be engaged based on merit and no lobbying for employment shall be entertained because only the best from among the applicants shall be brought into this very critical sector.
The governor has further promised to engage more teachers; as many as are qualified and required to fill in any gap which may arise from the massive enrollment currently being experienced in most public schools. Earlier the state government ruled that no child of school age should be left out of school for whatever reason. Parents and guardians who fail to comply, will be held responsible by education marshals mandated by government to ensure such parents are traced and sanctioned appropriately.
Abia First therefore represents the first in the history of the state since creation were education received deserved attention for repositioning in the interest of generations yet unborn expected to pass through it’s grooming structure in the process of becoming well ‘packaged’ Abians and very productive global citizens. Gov. Otti declares that the aim of the Abia First initiative is to ‘weaponise’ Abia children the education way.
It is interesting to note that the campaign organisation of Dr. Alex Otti was at inception tagged “Abia First” when he decided to join the race to become governor in 2014. This coincidence with the current education reform initiative is testament to the fact that there is no stopping the fulfilment of a idea whose time has come.
Dr. Alex Otti as an intellectual is well versed in the demands and benefits of a functional education system which his administration is bringing to bear on Abia society in a determined quest to evolve a new Abia that will be to the benefit of the majority and not a few privileged ones as was the case under the old order marked by clannish affiliations and nepotism.
The setting aside of the old order is on full steam with the implementation of well thought out policies in an effort to build a new society in God’s own state were all citizens are given opportunities to develop their talents under an education system that ensures qualitative grooming within conducive environments alongside a dedicated teaching workforce.
Abia education sector is set for a new lease of life and this is one of the hallmarks of the New Abia.
Gov. Otti is indeed a game changer and will be remembered for all time as the man who turned around the fortunes of education in God’s own state for good.
Abia is on the path to the promised land. It is indeed a new day.
By Chukwuma Elvis public affairs commentator