GOVERNOR DOUYE DIRI EMPHASIZE SIGNIFICANCE OF EDUCATION
The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has emphasized the significance of education as a driving force in the development of humans and societal growth. According to him, the objective of the education summit was to chart the way forward for children in the pursuance of education with the view to fashion out critical policies to guide the educational needs of Bayelsa State.
Governor Douye Diri made the remark while declaring Open a 5 Days Education Summit with the Theme; “Optimizing the Delivery, Performance and Sustainability of Outcomes in the Educational Sector” at the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board Conference Centre, Oxbow Lake, in Yenagoa.
Governor Diri said the summit would enable government identify stakeholders for possible collaboration that would lead to the establishment of a fifteen years development plan to equip the educational sector for sustainable growth which would be backed by law to guide against disruption of the policy by incoming administration.
The Governor noted that, it was government’s desire to encourage science and technical education in the school system to enable children acquire the needed technological skills in order for them to compete favourably and take their rightful place in society.
According to him, the State Executive Council had in one of its meeting approved the inclusion of Izon language in the School’s curriculum for the people of the State to have a common identity. He therefore, called for partnership and collaboration with the International Oil Companies (IOCs), Captains of Industries operating in the State particularly in the area of scholarship to the indigeneous students adding that, it would cement a good relationship with their host Communities.
The former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in his keynote address, expressed appreciation to Governor Douye Diri, commended him for carrying on with the vision thereby contributing to the development of education in Bayelsa State.
According to him, education as instrument of development and social change should be given priority through an effective policy framework to guide the provision of qualitative education to the citizenry.
The former President, called for the establishment of Marine Engineering Department in the Higher Institutions in the State to produce quality Marine Engineers.
He said, languages as critical in societal developments should be encouraged and included in the educational policies, as well as the provision of ICT services in the Schools starting from the Nursery to the Secondary Schools.
Dr. Jonathan lauded the Governor for his visions and dreams in the educational sector hoping that, the summit was the best way to accomplish the set goals and objectives of Government in the Education sector.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman, Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund, Professor Turner Isoun who was represented by Professor Francis Sikoki, commended the State Government and Ministry of Education for the Maiden Educational Summit organized in the State.
According to Professor Isoun, despite the challenge of fund, Government has established various institutions such as the Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF), the State Owned Universities and other educational institutions to provide lasting solutions to solving the educational problems in the State.
The Board Chairman however assured that, the EDTF as strategic partners and co-sponsors of the Summit was determined to support the educational programmes of Government to ensure the provision of quality education in the State.
He however highlighted some of the critical areas intervened and supported by the Trust Fund in the Educational sector to include;
- The funding of the 11 Model Boarding Secondary Schools
- Establishment of 300 Capacity Computer Based Testing Centre at University of Africa, Toru-Orua,
- Roof Top Science Laboratory at Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa
- Provision of Internet Bandwidth in all campuses of the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, amongst others.