The Abia government has commenced training for 5,349 newly recruited teachers across nursery, primary and secondary school levels in the state.

The training was organised by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education under the AbiaFIRST Education Programme, to improve education standards in the state.

AbiaFIRST, which stands for Abia Fostering Innovation and Reform for School Transformation, was the government’s initiative to transform the educational sector in the state.

Goodluck Ubochi, the state Commissioner for Education, who declared the exercise open on Tuesday at the Federal Government Girls’ College, Umuahia, urged the teachers to be committed to their jobs as agents of transformation.

Mr Ubochi said the government had committed many resources to equip teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver quality education.

The commissioner assured the teachers of prompt payment of salaries and better welfare packages, and warned them against indolence and lack of commitment to duty.

He disclosed that the government would recruit another set of 4,000 teachers after their deployment to fill any existing vacancies in the schools.

According to him, Governor Alex Otti of Abia is ready to spend a significant amount to ensure that education in the state becomes what it ought to be.

In a goodwill message, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Uchechi Kalu, admonished the teachers to take their work seriously and be committed to their calling as teachers.

“We are all gathered here to equip you, so that come September, when you will be involved in the practical aspect of your job, you will perform exceedingly well,” she said.

Also, the state chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers, Friday Madu, said the union would celebrate Mr Otti on October 5, being World Teachers’ Day, for his transformational leadership in education.

(NAN)