COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION RE-AFFIRM COMMITMENT TO ENSURE SCHOOLS DEBATE PROGRAMME BEING MADE ANNUAL EVENT IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Education, Dr Gentle Emelah, has reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to the annual hosting of schools debate programme for public secondary schools in the State through sponsorship from financial institutions.
The Education Commissioner made the remarks during a meeting with the Publicity and Sensitization Committee of the EDTF Board, in his office following some policy statements he made at the grand finale of the Schools Debate programme held on the 22nd of February 2023 at the NUJ press centre Ekeki, in Yenagoa
The Commissioner who had directed the immediate enrolment of the best speaker of the programme from GSS Ekeremor, Honey Kemeagbeyei into the Model Boarding School system stresses that, the Permanent Secretary should ensure the directive is effectively carried out.
He further noted that, Cash Prizes and Certificates would be presented to the best three speakers on the schools debate contest which will be selected from all participating schools based on performance, diction, gesticulation and confidence with the view of encouraging them.
The Commissioner also directed the issuance of certificate to all participants and their schools which could be preserved for future references.
He enjoined the EDTF to synergize with the Ministry to encourage and sustain the schools debate programme in the school system to enable subsequent governments to continue the programme.
Dr. Emelah applauded the EDTF for introducing innovative programmes in the Education system such as school debate, Technovation, Coding and Robotics and others stating that, Bayelsa state will soon become a reference in the committee of States educationally
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, EDTF, Dr. (Mrs) Alice Atuwo expressed delights and thanked the Honourable Commissioner of Education and his team for the honour and warm reception accorded the Committee.
Dr Atuwo also lauded the Ministry for the cordial working relationship EDTF has enjoyed saying that it has made it easy for the joint implementation of policies and programmes as the supervisory Ministry.
Also, the Regent of Tarakiri kingdom and Chairman of the Publicity and Sensitization Committee of the EDTF Board, Royal Majesty, Fidelis Agbiki said, the purpose of the visit was to seek ways of implementing some of the policy statements of the Commissioner at the grand finale of school debate programme initiated by the EDTF with the primary aim of encouraging debates in Public Secondary Schools.
He therefore thanked the Honourable Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary for the cooperation EDTF enjoys adding that the synergy would lead to positive results in the Education Sector of the State.