The Ebonyi State government has taken a significant step toward improving basic education by approving an executive bill to establish an Education Development Trust Fund.
This action is a direct response to a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education and is intended to create a more stable and lasting source of funding for the state’s educational needs.
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State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, made the announcement in Abakaliki, following a State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Francis Nwifuru.
The bill has now been forwarded to the State House of Assembly for legislative review and approval.
Omebeh explained that the proposed fund would be a dedicated financial mechanism for mobilising public and private resources to enhance the basic education system.
He detailed that the fund would receive contributions from government taxes, development partners, corporations, and generous citizens.
These funds would be channelled into critical areas, including school infrastructure, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration, teacher training, scholarships, school feeding programs, and transportation.
According to Omebeh, the trust fund will provide a sustainable solution to educational challenges in Ebonyi State by ensuring that resources are allocated with transparency, joint planning, and strong oversight.
A legally constituted board will manage the fund in partnership with the State Ministry of Education and other stakeholders.
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This collaboration will help identify key priorities and ensure accountable implementation, which includes the rehabilitation of classrooms, construction of fences, toilets, and boreholes, and the training of teachers.
This new fund is expected to be a transformative initiative, addressing fundamental challenges in basic education and securing a brighter future for the state’s children through a sustainable and impactful approach to educational development.
