Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund and Capacity Building for Public Schools Administrators
The Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Education Development trust Fund (EDTF) Dr. Alice A. Atuwo has charged Head Teachers of Public Primary schools in the State to see themselves as critical stakeholders in the development process of education in the State.
Dr. Atuwo maintained that, as care givers and first moulders of chidren, Head Teachers play pivotal role in the performance of school children.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 6th batch of trainings for Teachers in the Public Schools at the main auditorium of the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, the Executive Secretary of EDTF said the productivity of any child academically was dependent on the foundation.
She posited that the fight for the emancipation of a people has shifted from arms struggle to academic and as such, efforts must be geared towards the academic prowess of the younger generation to continue the struggle of our forebears in the quest for a better Niger Delta region.
Dr. Atuwo said, it was in realization of the effect of capacity building for better education at the cradle and in line with the mandate of the EDTF that the fund was intervening in the training program for Head Teachers as administrators.
The Executive Secretary used the occasion to thank Governor DouyeDiri for continuing the lofty ideals of his predecessor especially the EDTF which she noted is being emulated and replicated in other states of the federation.
While urging the 300 beneficiaries of the 6th batch to take the training seriously to justify the huge investment, Dr. Atuwo reminded them that the training which would have cost them great fortune was provided for them at no cost as contributors to the scheme.
She appealed to them to carry out their duties with passion and the desire to see the children excelling in the future academic pursuits.
Declaring open the training, Commissioner of Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah represented by Professor Barclays Ayakoroma said quality education plays a major role in the life of a people and reaffirmed the Restoration administration’s resolve to continually facilitate programmes that would advance education in the State.
The Education Commissioner urged beneficiaries to realize that effective management requires galvanizing all resources at their disposal for the common good of all.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the Bayelsa State Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board (TTRCB), Dr. Stella Ugolo eulogized the EDTF for its continuous support to the training and re-training of teachers in the State.
Dr. Ugolo noted that with the 6th batch of training in place, all Primary Head Teachers in the State have been captured.
She stated that resource persons have been drawn from credible tertiary institutions within and outside the State to tackle the different modules that have been developed
The Executive chairman of TTRCB who urged the trainees to take the one-month training program seriously to impact in the administration of the their teachers and pupils however noted that those who were unsuccessful in previous trainings have been drafted into the program to repeat the training.
Delivering a lecture, Professor of Education Management, (Economics of Education) Niger Delta Univeristy, Amassoma, Professor Mark Leigha spoke on the need for continuous learning as administrators, team spirit, embracing modern skills and techniques, openness to accepting and analyzing the views of subordinates and the need to shun the tendencies of being bossy to effectively manage human and material resources in the public schools.
Dr. Leigha identified budgeting, scheduling, documentation, management, strategic planning, implementation and efficiency as some of the performance indicator of an administrator.
Heads of different education related agencies such as the State universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the State Post primary Schools Board, the Science and Technical Education Board (STEB), the State Agency for Mass Education delivered goodwill messages at the occasion, all eulogizing the contributions of the EDTF to the education sector in the State.
The occasion also witnessed the presentation of certificate and cash rewards to trainees of the 5th batch for best performance in seven categories.