By Williams Odunze
In order to have accurate numerical data of pupils in schools in Imo State for even distribution of learning materials, the Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB) in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has Flagged Off the 2022 National Personnel Audit (NPA) in Imo State.
The exercise was held at SUBEB Hall, IMSUBEB Headquarters, Portharcourt Road, Owerri, on Tuesday, with Technical Officers carrying out the numerical data auditing exercise from Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, being present.
Flagging Off the exercise, the Commissioner of Education, Prof. Sylvester Okorondu, stated that “from records available, more than 3,600 Basic Institutions will be visited in Imo State for this exercise. It is important to note that all public, private, faith- based, registered and unregistered schools in Imo State shall be visited during the NPA exercise in the state which starts from 7th June, 2022. I want to use this opportunity to call on all Junior School Principals, Head Teachers and Proprietors of all Basic Institutions in Imo State to ensure that their schools participate in this important exercise which is in the interest of the children across board”.
Presenting an address earlier, the Executive Chairman of IMSUBEB, Her Excellency, Lady Dr. Ada Okwuonu, hinted that UBEC uses the statistics generated from the NPA exercise to distribute learning materials to schools across the 36 states of the federation including Abuja, disclosing that Imo ranks among states with highest numerical data in the 2018 exercise to which it was commended and elevated by UBEC.
For this reason, she called on all schools in Imo State both public, private, faith- based, registered and unregistered to ensure to get captured in the exercise in the best interest of the state, saying “it will therefore be impressive if everybody in Imo helps in making the exercise to be successful”.
The former Deputy Governor of Imo State who affirmed that “the NPA which UBEC carries out with the 36 states and FCT every four years is mainly used to obtain data used in Basic Education Planning in the country”, reminded the “Basic Education Stakeholders also that UBEC uses the statistics generated from the NPA exercise in the distribution of learning materials to states”.
Praying to God to make the exercise a success so that government shares more relevant learning materials to the states to enhance teaching and learning among teachers and pupils for a better society, Okwuonu thanked Governor Hope Uzodimma for showing great interest in the Basic Education sub- sector of the state, remaking that in the “last three years, he has supported the training of 4,000 staff of the Basic Education System. Indeed, the Basic Education sub-sector of the state is in his heart. We thank him immensely”.
Okwuonu also appreciated the Commissioner of Education, Prof. Sylvester Okorondu, for all his good initiatives which she reiterated are geared at improving the state’s education sector.
Stating that the expectation of the exercise was the collection of valid numerical data of pupils in schools in the state which will be relied on in terms of distribution of learning materials to states by government, Director of UBEC and Secondary Education Department and Board Member, representing the Ministry of Education in IMSUBEB, Owerri, Lady Dorothy Mirikwe, said the Technical Officers conducting the exercise are selected based on their ICT knowledge and compliance.
Just as the representative of UBEC Executive Secretary, Abuja, Ezinne Helen Ego Okoro (Director, in charge of FCT UBEC Office) and the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, IMSUBEB and State Implementation Committee Chairman, Comrade Damian Amadi, emphasised that UBEC has a mandate in line with its Act for a Compulsory Four Years NPA, maintaining that the exercise was aimed at ascertaining the numerical strength of learners in every state.
NIGERIA NEWSPOINT
