The Abia State Government has inducted and begun training for 5,349 newly recruited teachers in early childhood, primary, and secondary schools. The programme launched in Umuahia and Aba as part of reforms to position Abia as a hub of educational excellence.
According to the Governor’s Special Adviser on Basic and Secondary Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu, the Education Reform Implementation Team is leading the induction with support from Lead Master Trainers trained under the AbiaFIRST initiative.
Merit-Based Recruitment
The state received over 30,000 applications during the recruitment exercise. Out of these, 5,349 teachers were selected strictly on merit. The government described the process as the most competitive and transparent in the state’s history.
Training Focus
The 12-day induction programme includes bilingual instruction, classroom management, project-based learning, inquiry-based teaching, and technical education. Teachers will also learn ICT modules such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and green energy integration.
Nwosu explained that the programme aligns with UNESCO’s projection that 44 million additional teachers are needed worldwide by 2030 to achieve SDG 4 (Quality Education). Sub-Saharan Africa alone will require about 15 million.
Teacher Welfare and Reforms
Governor Alex Otti stressed that teacher welfare is central to his reforms. He noted that salaries are now paid promptly every 28th of the month, ending years of irregular payments.
The training also supports the AbiaFIRST Education Programme, which offers free and compulsory education from Primary 1 to JSS 3, continuous teacher development, and the upgrading of school facilities.
Expected Impact
The state expects the new teachers to raise learning standards across all levels of education in Abia.
