How Bayelsa encourages children to learn
The Bayelsa State government is said to be effectively investing in education to encourage children to love learning and succeed in school as well as reap the long-term benefits of improving the education system. The investment has boosted the enrolment of kids who hitherto did not show much interest in acquiring western education, but solely […]
The Bayelsa State government is said to be effectively investing in education to encourage children to love learning and succeed in school as well as reap the long-term benefits of improving the education system.
The investment has boosted the enrolment of kids who hitherto did not show much interest in acquiring western education, but solely depended on compensation paid by the oil companies and other multinational concerns.
Daily Trust learnt that prior to 2012, there was no school in the whole of Bayelsa State with boarding facilities, but at present, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson-led administration has built many model schools furnished with boarding facilities and modern learning equipment.
St Jude Model School in Yenagoa, Ijaw National Academy, and several others are some of the efforts the government has made in uplifting the standard of education in the state. The government has also established higher institutions such as University of Africa, Teachers Training College, International Institute for Tourism and Hospitality in Elebele, the Music School in Yenagoa and many others, all aimed at fast tracking educational development of the state.
During the last inter-ministerial transparency briefing in the state, the Commissioner for Education, Mr Jonathan Obuebite, told newsmen that government spent over N10 billion in the state scholarship programme, where the state is currently enrolling over 140 Bayelsans on fully paid government scholarships to acquire PhDs in universities in Europe and America.
Obuebite added that the government has also sponsored about 400 students of the state for master’s degrees in universities overseas as well as various undergraduate students, while over 250 pupils are benefiting under the Bayelsa State Restoration Secondary Schools Scholarship Scheme.
The commissioner said: “Since the inception of the Governor Henry Seriake Dickson-led administration, the government has kept faith with the payment of WAEC, GCE, NECO, science and technical practical fees and JAMB fees for all its students in the state, which amount to over N5.2 billion.”
“The Governor Henry Seriake Dickson-led government has built over 600 primary schools with headmasters’ quarters, 11 model secondary schools and 25 constituency schools with boarding facilities across the state. The constituency schools are equipped with science laboratories and modern facilities required for 21st century learning. In all, we have invested over N70 billion on education in the past six years,” he also said.
Daily Trust also observed that the present administration has declared free and compulsory education from primary to secondary school for its citizens, with the provision of school uniforms, sandals and textbooks to the students.
The administration has also built a teacher training institute at Bolou Orua.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo, during his recent visit to the state lauded the government’s effort on education, saying it was aimed at producing future leaders with informed minds and reasoning.
The Vice Chancellor of University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Professor Valentine Aletor, during the maiden matriculation ceremony of the institution commended the governor’s passion for quality education, which has resulted in establishing another state university with quality learning facilities, in addition to the Niger Delta University.
He said: “The vibrancy and intellectual agility of his ideas for a paradigm shift in our nation’s education system is amazing, and the audacity of his resolve of making University of Africa a locally relevant and globally competitive university remains our propelling force.”
However, a source said most of the schools in the coastal communities are still in need of learning equipment and structures.
Governor Dickson, during the visit of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, said his government used education to checkmate and limit the rate of militancy and criminality among the youths.
He said the government’s investment of about N70 billion in education in the past six years has tackled insurgency, militancy and other security challenges in the country and also addressed illiteracy in the state.
Governor Dickson has also signed the bills establishing the Bayelsa State Tertiary Education Board and the Bayelsa State Student Tertiary Education Loan Board Law into law separately. The Compulsory Primary and Secondary School Bill was signed into law in February, 2018.
“And just as we dedicated 5% of the internally generated revenue of our state to the Education Development Trust Fund, the government will also every month, allocate some amount of money that I will announce shortly to the funding of the Student Loan Board,” the governor said.
He said students loan would be paid directly to higher institutions to settle fees and the graduates would repay within 10 to 20 years after getting employment.
Bayelsa State Education Trust Fund was put in place by the government to ensure effective prosecution of the project for free education at primary and secondary schools.