By Obiageli Nwankwo
The Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, has expressed strong disapproval over the proliferation of substandard and poorly produced books in the state’s education system.
She made this known while addressing members of the Anambra State chapter of writers and publishers who paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Education at the State Secretariat Complex, Awka.
Prof. Chuma-Udeh lamented that many of the books submitted for review to the Ministry lack proper educational value and fall below acceptable standards, thereby tarnishing the state’s reputation in the literary and academic space.
She urged writers and publishers to adhere strictly to the standards set by the state, stressing the importance of producing books that are intellectually sound, well-written, and professionally printed. “Strive to write and publish books that are worthy of the subject matter, meet literary conventions, and are presentable—not books printed on newsprint,” she warned.
The Commissioner emphasized that the era of mediocrity in the education sector is over, saying, “We are in the age of smart schools for smart students, equipped for smart education. Any writer or publisher who wants to remain relevant must upgrade their skills.”
She further pointed out that publishing substandard books indirectly promotes piracy, which the state is working hard to eliminate. According to her, the Soludo-led administration will not tolerate the distribution of pirated or substandard books in Anambra schools.
Highlighting the purpose of the Ministry’s annual book review exercise, Prof. Chuma-Udeh explained that it is designed to identify and eliminate poor-quality materials and prevent publishers from switching approved quality content with inferior versions after approval.
She cautioned that the Ministry will routinely monitor the books used in schools and withdraw any that fail to meet the required standards. “We will no longer burden our students with books that lack educational or moral content simply because some publishers are driven by profit,” she warned.
Responding on behalf of the visiting team, Mr. Aloysius Modika commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the Ministry for their commitment to restoring quality in the educational sector. He assured that writers and publishers in the state will align with the Ministry’s guidelines to produce high-quality books that support effective teaching and learning.
Obiageli is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
