The Imo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Thompson O. Ikegwuoha has assured the Principals of the Public Secondary Schools in the State under the aegis of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) that the Ministry would partner with them.
Prof. Ikegwuoha gave the assurance at the Conference hall of the Ministry when the State ANCOPSS leadership paid him a courtesy visit. He described the Principals as partners in progress and promised that no one of them would be penalized. The Education Commissioner acknowledged their challenges, but enjoined them to exercise patience. According to him, “the truth is that there is no money and education is capital intensive”.
He, however, advised them to articulate their needs one after the other in order of priority; adding that running cost was a necessity.
Prof. Ikegwuoha challenged the ANCOPSS leadership to think of what they could do for the body, like the purchase of ANCOPSS bus to ease their mobility problem as well as decide on the amount that would go to ANCOPSS in the future registration of examinations like the National Examination Council (NECO) and assured of his approval.
Earlier, in his speech, the State President of ANCOPSS, Rev. Bernard Marume, stated that they came to welcome him to the Ministry and highlight some of their challenges and programmes. He mentioned some of their challenges to include; dilapidated structures/buildings of schools in the rural areas, no running cost, no bus for mobility etc.
Rev. Marume also intimated the Commissioner on the National ANCOPSS hosting of its members from all over the World in August, 2020 at Abuja and the National Executive Council Conference in October, 2020. The State ANCOPSS President said the State Congress Election would take place in January 2021, during which new officers of ANCOPSS would be elected.
Moving a vote of thanks, the State Secretary of ANCOPSS, Mr Boniface lwuji said they were highly impressed by the Commissioner’s warm reception. He promised that they would not let him down assured that the Principals would stand by his three watch words of truth, trust and honesty.
