By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
Governor Francis Nwifuru-led administration has approved to upgrade of 39 secondary schools to model ones in Ebonyi State.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Engr Jude Chikadibia Okpor disclosed this while briefing pressmen on the outcomes of the Executive Council meeting yesterday in Abakaliki.
Okpor said each of the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State would get three out of the 39 model secondary schools.
The Commissioner said the approval to build the model schools by the State Executive Council (EXCO) was to keep the creeds of Governor Francis Nwifuru's administration anchored on the People's Charter of Needs.
"In keeping to His Excellency's People's Charter of Needs policy, especially in the area of quality education, the EXCO after thorough deliberation, approved the upgrade of thirty-nine (39) Secondary Schools in the state to Model Schools, with each local government allocated three. The schools at completion will not only be citadels of learning but will serve as moral reset factories for Ebonyi children."
The EXCO according to Okpor, also approved the introduction of a 'Spelling Bee' for primary and secondary schools.
He said the EXCO approved this after considering the benefits of spelling drills to the basic stages of educational development in the state.
"The council also approved the perimeter survey of public primary and secondary schools in the state to avoid encroachment, which is gradually becoming a recurrent issue in state-owned facilities.'"
He disclosed that the state government has constituted a committee to permanently end illegal mining in Ebonyi communities to ensure the safety of lives and property.
"To ensure a clean and healthy Ebonyi environment, the council after exhaustive deliberations on rising issues, resolved to embark on the procurement of some equipment, ranging from sweeping machines to tractors with backhoes for cleaning drainages, and further approved the release of an old Ambulance to be refurbished for emergency corpse evacuation," the Commissioner added.
