Anambra Education Commissioner Refutes Claims of Extramural Classes Ban
Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the Commissioner for Education in Anambra State, addressed misconceptions circulating in the media regarding the alleged ban on extramural classes and the setting of a dismissal time for all primary and secondary schools in the state.
Contrary to reports suggesting that the Anambra State Government had enforced such restrictions, the Commissioner emphasized that these stories were not only baseless but stemmed from a gross misrepresentation of her comments.
The narrative took root earlier this week when several publications suggested that the Commissioner had announced a ban on extension classes and a mandatory dismissal time of 2:30 pm for schools across the state, supposedly aligning with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision for ensuring students have ample rest and family time. These reports also claimed that she insisted on schools closing daily activities to enable students to be home by 3 pm.
However, upon clarification, Commissioner Chuma-Udeh strongly denied these claims, stating that her comments were taken out of context. She explained that her interaction with the press was based on discussing the educational philosophies recommended by the United Nations and adopted by Nigeria, which focus on the holistic development of children rather than the duration of their academic engagement.
She highlighted that Governor Soludo is indeed concerned about the long hours students spend in school but clarified that there was never a mention of outrightly banning extramural classes or setting a strict dismissal time.
The Commissioner took the opportunity to showcase the state’s achievements in education under Governor Soludo’s administration, including the recent victory of Christ the King College (CKC) Onitsha students at the 2024 World Affairs Challenge (WAC), where they outperformed teams from the US and Turkey.
This victory, among others, exemplifies the strides Anambra State has made in education, reinforcing the government’s commitment to fostering a conducive learning environment.