The Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Awka, has commenced the distribution of administrative statutory academic records to basic schools across the state, in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s zero-levy policy for basic education.
The Executive Chairman of ASUBEB, Dr Justina Anyadiegwu, disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Awka, describing the initiative as one of the practical expressions of the administration’s free education policy aimed at removing barriers to education and creating an enabling environment for schools to function effectively.
She said the administrative statutory records being distributed included registers, diaries, folders and other essential school records, all provided at no cost to schools to support effective administration and documentation of school activities.
Appreciating the governor for his policy direction and support, which facilitated the implementation of the initiative, Anyadiegwu said the exercise would help reduce the administrative burden on headteachers and improve school administration through digital record-keeping.
“We recognise that digitalisation would require adequate preparation, continuous capacity building and sustained support for the schools.
“By the next academic session, the basic school system will commence a systematic migration from manual record-keeping to full digital school records.
“The recent training of headteachers, officers-in-charge and zonal directors across the state on the use of digital registers and other digital administrative records was to prepare them for the next phase of the administrative reforms,” she added.
Earlier, the Director of the Administration Department, Mrs Florence Chinweze, described the exercise as a deliberate and thoughtful step towards strengthening school administration.
She described effective school record-keeping as the backbone of any functional educational system.
The Secretary of the Post-Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), Lady Bernardine Anagor, reminded headteachers that the statutory records provided to them free of charge were intended to improve school administration.
She urged officers-in-charge to monitor compliance with the proper use of the records.
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Speaking separately, the Zonal Director of Education, Onitsha Zone, Lady Afoma Agbapuonwu; Chairman, Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Anambra State chapter, Mrs Josephine Chikwendu; Chairman, Officers-in-Charge, Mrs Celestina Oranye; and an Education Secretary, Rev. Canon Jonathan Ikpeoyi, commended the governor for his commitment to upgrading the basic education system.
They also appreciated the ASUBEB chairman for her prompt response in providing the administrative statutory records to schools and pledged to ensure the materials were judiciously utilised.
On her part, ASUBEB Consultant, Lady Stella Ezepue, said the records would not only reduce administrative costs but also enhance school management, record-keeping, teaching and learning for improved educational outcomes.
She charged headteachers to ensure that the records were properly kept and regularly updated.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Secretary of AOPSHON, Mr Joseph Ikpeani, commended Soludo for his education-friendly policies and the ASUBEB chairman for helping to address administrative challenges facing schools.
The event attracted key stakeholders in the basic education sector, including zonal directors of education, directors of various departments in ASUBEB, officers-in-charge, members of the Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (APSHON), education secretaries and other stakeholders.
