The survey carried out by Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2011), the National Demographic Household Survey, NDHS, 2013, and Education Management Information System, EMIS of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Education showed that only 43 percent of Ebonyi state pre-school children are attending any form of organized preschool system in the State.
This development made the United Nations International Children Education Fund, UNICEF, in collaboration with Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board, UBEB, to begin an Enrollment Drive Campaign across the 13 local government areas to tackle the ugly trend in the state.
The UNICEF Desk officer for the state UBEB, Christogonus Nweke, Mrs Maria Oselebe, Director Social Mobilization for UBEB and UBEB Desk Officer on Advocacies and Mobilization Activities, Mr. Ogeh Kenneth who recently went on tour of the LGAs inaugurated an Enrollment Drive Committee with membership cutting across the Women’s Group, Faith-based organizations, the Media, Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT among others.
Nzeribe who called on the stakeholders not to relent until the enrolment drive of Ebonyi children rises above its present level admonished them to come up with a Work Plan on how to reverse the ugly trend and put Ebonyi on the road map of academic excellence across the zone.