By Nkechinyere Ewa
The Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary) in Ebonyi state Ilang Donatus, has defended the education reforms of Governor Francis Nwifuru , insisting that the current administration has made education the “frontline” of governance through massive infrastructure renewal, digital transformation, recruitment of teachers and closure of illegal schools.
Speaking during an interaction with journalists, Ilang said the Nwifuru administration inherited a system plagued by infrastructure decay, poor regulation, illegal schools and weak learning facilities, but has since embarked on aggressive reforms aimed at repositioning education across the state.
According to him, the governor has moved beyond policy declarations by implementing practical projects in both primary and secondary schools across the 13 local government areas of the state.
He disclosed that the government is currently constructing dozens of modern classroom blocks, including one-storey 12-classroom structures and additional 22-classroom projects, many of which are nearing completion.
The commissioner said the intervention is part of a broader effort to modernize schools, improve learning conditions and restore confidence in public education.
“You must have seen the level of work going on in our schools. The governor identified infrastructure decay as one of the major problems affecting quality education and immediately began addressing it,” Ilang said.
Beyond physical structures, he explained that the administration has renovated and re-equipped libraries and laboratories while introducing technology-driven reforms aimed at moving the state from conventional learning methods to digital education.
He revealed that the state government is finalizing an education e-platform that will integrate all public primary and secondary schools into a centralized digital system.
According to him, the platform will simplify administration, improve monitoring, support examinations and generate internally generated revenue for the state.
“The educational system has moved from conventional learning to e-learning and Ebonyi cannot be left behind. Within a short period, all schools under this ministry will be connected to one educational platform,” he stated.
The commissioner further noted that examination systems in the state have also been upgraded, allowing students and parents to access results online from anywhere in the world.
A major highlight of Ilang’s address was the state government’s crackdown on illegal and unapproved schools, which he described as one of the biggest challenges facing the education sector before the current administration came into office.
He argued that many of the schools operated in unsafe environments, including church halls, uncompleted buildings and residential apartments without approval or qualified teachers.
“Somebody under a tree calls it a high school. Somebody using one room in an uncompleted building calls it a school. That is not education,” he said.
According to him, the closure of such schools has revived enrollment in public schools, with many institutions now recording student populations running into hundreds.
He disclosed that over 3,000 illegal schools have either been shut down or targeted for closure under the enforcement of education regulations backed by state law.
The commissioner also said the exercise has significantly improved the state’s internally generated revenue, as many school owners who had operated for decades without registration or approvals were compelled to regularize their operations.
He stressed that the ministry adopted dialogue and sensitization before enforcement measures were introduced.
“We did not just wake up and begin closing schools. We carried out sensitization, meetings and warnings before applying the law,” he added.
On the issue of teachers’ welfare, Ilang praised Governor Nwifuru for approving salary increases, festive bonuses and recruitment exercises after years of stagnation in the sector.
He noted that the administration recruited about 2,000 teachers to bridge manpower gaps in schools, describing the move as one of the most significant educational interventions in recent years.
The commissioner also highlighted scholarship programmes, investments in ICT education and support for higher institutions as evidence of the administration’s commitment to human capital development.
Responding to questions on a viral video showing pupils sitting on bare floors while learning, Ilang admitted that the condition was unacceptable but maintained that the government was already taking steps to address such challenges.
He disclosed that he personally visited the affected school and directed relevant education authorities to intervene.
“Nobody will be happy seeing children sitting on the bare floor to study. It does not represent who we are,” he said.
However, he also appealed to parents and communities to complement government efforts by providing basic learning materials for their children.
According to him, education should be seen as a partnership involving government, parents, communities and private stakeholders.
“Even during the era of free education, parents still provided lockers, desks and uniforms for their children. Government cannot do everything alone,” he stated.
Ilang also dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging that a teacher was suspended over the viral classroom incident.
He described the claims as false and misleading, insisting that neither the Ministry of Education nor relevant education boards approved any such suspension.
“There was no suspension whatsoever. Since the inception of this administration, we have not suspended anybody in this ministry,” he said.
The commissioner accused some social media users of spreading misinformation for online attention and urged journalists to embrace investigative reporting before publishing sensitive issues.
He maintained that despite existing challenges, the Nwifuru administration has made substantial progress in transforming the education sector and deserves recognition for its reforms.
“We are correcting problems that existed long before this administration came into office. The governor has done much in education and will continue to do more,” Ilang added.