GOVERNMENT OF BAYELSA STATE RECEIVES COMMENDATION FROM IGNATIUS AJURU UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, PORT-HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE
Bayelsa State Government has been commended for establishing the State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) to intervene in critical aspect of Education in the State.
Dean, Faculty of Special Education, Ignatus Ajuru University of Education, Professor Vincent Asuru made the commendation when he received the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee of the EDTF in his office at the University main Campus.
Professor Asuru was elated that the EDTF saw the need to offer scholarship to some indigent students to study Special Education courses to be engaged in the State Owned Schools for Children with Special Needs.
The Dean noted that the Special Needs Department was novel but now a flagship of the University, attracting students from far and near.
He lauded the friendly disposition of the Bayelsa Scholarship Students who despite their challenges are willing to learn.
Professor Asuru applauded the team for the visit and appealed to the EDTF to address the challenge of mobility for the students who came from the St. John Campus in Aba Road and the need to strengthen relationship between the University and Bayelsa State.
Also speaking, the Head of Department, Counseling and Psychology, Professor Sunday Ordu said the students have demonstrated capacity to learn.
Professor Ordu also commended the Bayelsa State Government for recognizing the need for equal educational opportunity for all irrespective of status, noting that those with challenges also have something to offer society.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee of the Education Development Trust Fund, Professor Francis Sikoki said the Committee’s visit was to monitor the progress level of the fifteen students beneficiaries of its scholarship to ascertain value for money.
Professor Sikoki said the EDTF was established to intervene in critical areas of education in the state and it saw the need to bridge the gap in the teaching staff of the School for Children with Special Needs in Opolo, hence the resolve to train fifteen teachers in the University.
He noted that the visit would afford the EDTF the opportunity to interact with the school management and the students to get first hand information of the progress of the students academically and identify possible challenges with a view to addressing them.
Professor Sikoki while interacting with the fifteen beneficiaries commended their high spirit and enthusiasm for the programme.
He urge them to maximize the opportunity and challenged them to be dedicated to make the State and the EDTF proud by coming out with good grades.
The Monitoring and Evaluation Committee Chairman reminded them that the ultimate goal of the programme was to return home and impact on other children with Special Needs.
In their separate comments, the beneficiaries who took turns to speak, appreciated Governor Douye Diri for sustaining the EDTF which was a creation of his predecessor.
They also thanked the EDTF for giving them the opportunity to attend a higher institution of learning to better their lots.
The fifteen beneficiaries were unanimous in their resolve to make the State proud appealed to the EDTF to review their monthly allowances based on current economy realities.
The scholars are currently in their three hundred (300) level after completing a National Diploma Programme.