Ebonyi State government on Tuesday Sept 8, 2020, joined other parts of the world to commemorate the International Literacy Day in Abakliki even as it used the opportunity to create awareness concerning the establishment of Tehila Adult Education School, located at Saint Margret International Market, within the State capital. The institution comprises primary and post primary schools.
The event with the theme, ‘Literacy Teaching in the COVID-19 Crisis, and Beyond, especially on the role of Facilitators, and Changing Pedagogues,’ put together by Ebonyi State Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non Formal Education, in collaboration, with Family Succor, and Upliftment Foundation, created awareness on the essence of enrolment and location of the school inside the market.
Addressing petty traders, Special Assistant to the Governor on Mass Literacy and Adult Education, Barr. Mrs. Stella Nwagu, noted that the importance of building the school in the market was to make it accessible to all so that some drop outs could upgrade themselves academically.
She emphasized that with the establishment of the school inside the market, some adults who have not attended any school before now or some, who had stopped half way because of one reason or another, are given the opportunity to obtain basic education free of charge.
Barr. Nwagu applauded the State government, led by Engr Dave Umahi for upgrading the educational status of its citizenry through the programme which she described as a rare gift.
She further charged the petty traders not to feel shy but rather embrace the opportunity which ordinarily would not have come their way without government effort.
Also speaking, Hon. Mrs Chinwe Okah, Commissioner for Market Development advised all and sundry, mostly those still ignorant of formal education to enroll in the school since it has been built close to almost all the adult and no one will have any excuse either because of distance or financial requirement not to attend, since it only requires their presence and commitment of the interested persons.
Some petty traders like Mr Benson Odo, and Mrs Ngozi Onwumara respectively, thanked the State government and other persons that had one way or the other contributed to the success and also advised their colleagues to enroll in the school.
Highlight of the program was awareness creation in all parts of the market and sharing of free writing materials which included customized exercise books, pencil, rulers and other items.
It would be recalled that the state government since inception had changed the narrative about the state by promoting adult education to remove the uncomfortable tag that was placed on the citizens who are regarded as hawkers and house helps around the country especially because the indigenes had relegated education to the background over the years.
