How Soludo’s Free Education Policy Is Transforming Anambra’s Schools
By Chizoba Njaka
The Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, has commended Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo for what she described as the “total and unprecedented transformation” of the state’s education sector, declaring that the Governor has fully delivered on his campaign promise of free, quality, and inclusive education for all children in Anambra State.
Speaking in an interview in Awka, Prof. Chuma-Udeh said Governor Soludo’s administration had repositioned the education sector through massive teacher recruitment, digital learning initiatives, infrastructure renewal, and improved welfare for teachers.
“When Governor Soludo assumed office, the education sector was in a deplorable state. Many schools had no teachers, classrooms were leaking, and pupils sat on bare floors. But today, the story has changed,” she said.
According to her, the government recruited 8,150 qualified teachers in two phases: 5,000 in the first batch and 3,150 in the second: within the first nine months in office, describing the process as one of the most transparent recruitment exercises in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“The Governor believes that the quality of pupils depends on the quality of teachers,” she added, noting that teachers were strategically deployed to rural and hard-to-reach areas to ensure equitable access to education across all 21 local government areas of the state".
Prof. Chuma-Udeh also revealed that the Soludo administration has made education completely free for pupils in public primary and secondary schools across Anambra State. “Before now, there was something like semi-free education where parents still paid certain levies,” she explained. “Governor Soludo abolished all dues and introduced a truly holistic free education system. Every child can now attend school without worrying about fees or levies.”
The Commissioner added that the government now pays school fees directly into school accounts and provides monthly stipends to principals and head teachers for maintenance and administration.
She noted that hundreds of schools have been renovated, while 21 Smart Schools: one in each local government area, have been established, equipped with digital learning tools and modern facilities. “This is part of our Smart School Initiative,” she said. “Teachers have been trained to use technology in classrooms, and a second phase of the initiative will soon begin to cover more schools.”
Prof. Chuma-Udeh further disclosed that the government has upgraded three major special education centres in Onitsha, Umuchu, and Isulo, providing them with Braille machines, talking computers, and other assistive learning tools for students with visual and hearing impairments.
On teachers’ welfare, she said the administration has prioritized capacity building, regular training, and prompt payment of salaries. “Teachers are now more motivated, their morale is high, and they recently gathered at Ekwueme Square to endorse Governor Soludo for a second term, describing him as ‘the teacher’s governor,’” she stated.
She also highlighted improved monitoring and accountability through the State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and the Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), as well as the establishment of Community Quality Control Committees to check truancy among teachers and students.
In her remarks, the Chairman of PPSSC, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, described the free education policy as a “turning point” for public schools in the state, revealing that school enrollment has surged from 103,000 to 165,000 within one year.
In her words, “Parents who once preferred private and mission schools are now returning to government-owned institutions,” she said. “No child is denied admission. Even if a child comes without a uniform, we contribute to provide one. The poorest of the poor, including non-indigenes, now attend school free of charge.”
Prof. Ikediugwu added that Anambra schools have continued to excel nationally and internationally, noting that the state won nine out of fifteen awards at the 2025 Presidential Teachers’ Awards, including Best Public School in Nigeria (Woliwo Memorial Primary School, Onitsha). She also celebrated the state’s students for winning an international debate competition in Malaysia.
Similarly, a Board Member of the PPSSC, QueenLady Dr. Ngozi Ekwunife, reaffirmed that education remains one of the key pillars of Governor Soludo’s administration, stressing that his reforms have enhanced access, quality, and equity across public schools.
She explained that the introduction of free education has boosted enrollment, improved retention, and relieved parents of financial burdens, while the government continues to invest heavily in infrastructure, teacher development, and digital learning.
“Governor Soludo’s education reforms have brought life back to our schools,” Dr. Ekwunife said. “He has demonstrated a strong commitment to the holistic development of students, combining academics with moral and emotional support.”
Prof. Chuma-Udeh, Prof. Ikediugwu, and Dr. Ekwunife all agreed that the Governor’s achievements within three years surpass what many administrations have achieved in eight years.
“He has achieved in three years what many could not achieve in eight years. Education remains the foundation of his development vision, and we are determined to sustain it,” Prof. Chuma-Udeh declared.
They jointly appealed to parents, teachers, and communities to continue supporting the free education initiative, emphasizing that education is a shared responsibility. “Education is a collective duty. Everyone must play their part to sustain the gains we’ve achieved,” they said.
With visible reforms, increased access, and record achievements, education stakeholders in the state believe that Governor Soludo deserves another term to consolidate the ongoing progress.
As the slogan now echoes across Anambra:
“4 + 4 = 8 — Let the Solution Continue.”