Ex-Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu has hailed Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi for sustaining the free education programme he introduced in office.
Egwu, who is the senator representing Ebonyi North, spoke yesterday in Abakaliki, in an interview with NAN.
He said the state had shown commitment in sustaining achievements made by previous administrations in deepening and developing education.
Egwu, also a former minister of Education during the administration of the late President Musa Yar’adua, commended government for training and retraining teachers as well as upgrading schools.
He applauded the procurement of teaching aids and regular payments of the state’s counterparts funds to the Universal Basic Education Commission.
“These are critical for the provision of qualitative teaching and learning. Ebonyi is one of the few states that has sustained and maintained 100 per cent free and compulsory education from primary to senior secondary school levels.
“We started the revolution, and I am glad what we started in 1999 is still being sustained and our children are enjoying an unhindered access to free basic and senior secondary school education.
“The Ebonyi school system and its educational programme rank among the best in the country; pupils from private and public schools have represented the country in international academic competitions, and they excelled.
“We have raised the stake in education; I am happy that our state, which was formally regarded as educationally backward, is now taking centre-stage in academic achievements, ” Egwu said.
According to the senator, “the highest form of social development is human capital and my administration for eight years channelled resources to address the problem.
“We trained medical doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers, among other professionals, through overseas scholarship, and these professionals constitute the bulk of manpower in various sectors.
“Many beneficiaries till date still call me to appreciate the opportunity our government afforded them to study abroad,” Egwu added.