Public school teachers in the basic education sector have called for the sustainability of the BayelsaPRIME reform programme.
They made the call at the maiden edition of Teacher Appreciation Day, an event put together by the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board to recognize teachers who distinguished themselves through punctuality, lesson completion, accurate examination record keeping and commitment to duty.
In attendance at the award ceremony were the Commissioner for Special Duties Dr. Churchill Obosi, Bayelsa State; Director Primary education, Ministry of Education Powei Otrofaniowei; Director Social Mobilisation, Bayelsa SUBEB, Joy Otoworo and Director Quality Assurance Dambo Mumabo.
Speaking at the ceremony where four teachers and headteachers alongside an Education Secretary were awarded for their diligence, Ekese Ekiegha, head teacher, Community Primary School 2 Agbere noted that BayelsaPRIME has drastically improved the way things are done in the primary school system.
She therefore called on the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri to sustain the policy to enable all local government areas in Bayelsa benefit from the reform. Other teachers at the ceremony expressed their support for the reform while pointing to the changes it has affected in the system.
“Teachers are now mindful of their resumption time in school, they are also more effective in teaching because they know that if they do not teach, the regulators at SUBEB will be aware and take action,” Tamunokari Bomo, a teacher from Sabagreia Community Primary School 1, Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area, said.
Also speaking at the award ceremony, the Executive Secretary of Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board, Chief Victor Okubonanabo noted that the school system has seen drastic improvement since BayelsaPRIME was lunched in the state. He further noted that the award event was put in place to appreciate hard working teachers.
BayelsaPRIME, the basic education reform programme of the state government which was formally introduced into 222 public primary schools across four local government areas in early 2023, uses technology, a new teaching method, high quality learning materials and a scientifically proven teacher professional development methods.
Four teachers and headteachers with the best key performance indicators (KPIs) as well as an Education Secretary from one of the local governments where BayelsaPRIME has been implemented received awards for outstanding performance at the event.
They are Tamunokari Bomo, teacher, Sabagreia CPS 1, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area; Oletu Patience, teacher, Agbere CPS 2, Sagbama Local Government Area; Ankra Blessing, teacher, Igbogene CPS 1, Yenagoa Local Government Area and Ibu Samuel Otuabula.
Others are Ekese Ekiegha, headteacher, Agbere CPS 2, Sagbama Local Government Area; Isowo Idubama, headteacher, Sabagreia CPS 1, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area; Silk Olapagha, headteacher, Igbogene CPS 1, Yenagoa Local Government Area; Racheal Egenansi, headteacher, Ologi SS1, Ogbia Local Government Area.
Woyingikuro Ineiyeri, Education Secretary, Kolokuma/Opokuma Loal Government Area was given the outstanding Education Secretary Award.
Speaking at the ceremony Dr. Gentle Emelah, Commissioner for Education, Bayelsa State noted that, His Excellency Governor Douye Diri takes education and skills development seriously. He noted that education is one of the cornerstones of the developmental strategies of Governor Douye Diri.
Over 40,000 Students currently benefit from the BayelsaPRIME reform.
