Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday Tuesday in Awka handed cheques totaling N1 billion to Principals of secondary schools in the state for the renovation and equipping of their laboratories and libraries.
Each secondary school received N2 million which the governor said, is part of the final push to upgrade the infrastructure in all public and missionary schools in the state.
Obi announced at the ceremony attended by school children and their teachers, as well as traditional rulers and leaders of thought in the state, that the 2000 teachers to be employed for the secondary schools this year would be in the core subjects of English, mathematics, sciences and Igbo, adding that the teachers would be adequately trained both locally and abroad to equip them properly to enable them impart the right knowledge to the students.
Yesterday’s event came barely ten days after the governor presented cheques of N1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of primary schools returned to the Churches; N2b for rehabilitation of primary schools owned by government and N3 billion to selected missionary hospitals to upgrade their facilities to enable them secure accreditation.
Obi said the funds being disbursed were part of the N40b his government would commit in the next six months into various sectors as final push towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, MDG.
According to him, the money came as a result of savings, prudent management of resources and unprecedented support the state enjoys from development partners, adding that his administration has not borrowed money to execute any project.
He also said that the state government had already procured 500 buses from local manufacturers, Coscharis Group and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company to be distributed to both public and private schools.
Other things he said would be provided to secondary schools before the end of the year include, 25,000 laptops installed with full school syllables and books, generators, sick bays and internet connectivity.
Obi said the decision to accommodate all schools irrespective of their owners was because they were training Anambra children.
He said that he was encouraged because the massive support he gave to schools in the past had manifested in the improved academic performance of the schools in the state and reminded the people that the only way to sustain the revolution going would be for them to vote in a credible and clear-headed candidate during the governorship election.
Though most of the schools received buses from the state government about four years ago, Obi said one vehicle is inadequate for moving students to functions whenever the need arose, adding that it was for that reason that all schools would be given another set of buses.
Other programmes mapped out for schools by the state government include provision of internet services, easy access to sick bay for the students, upgrading of Microsoft computer services and purchase of generating sets for all schools.
