The Hon. Commissioner for Education, Bayelsa State, Dr. Gentle Emelah has commended the Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund’s commitment to improving the standard of education in the State through critical intervention.
Dr. Emelah made the commendation at a ceremony to present science laboratory equipment for 10 secondary schools in the State, equipment provided by the EDTF through the Science and Technical Education Board (STEB).
He is amazed by the vision of members of the EDTF Board that has continued to conceive and put together wonderful programmes geared towards the upliftment of education in the State, the Education Commissioner said.
He explained that, the State government has invested vigorously in the general upgrading of education particularly in the primary sector by introducing technical education to strengthen the sector, stating that, in the next 10 years Bayelsa State would be among the top three states in the Federation in the provision of quality and sustainable education.
While affirming Governor Douye Diri determination to translate his prosperity vision in the Education Sector, Dr. Emelah promised the Ministry’s support to increase the number of benefiting schools as well as lauded the Science and Technical Education Board (STEB) for identifying the science needs in the schools.
He therefore urged the Principals of the schools to make good use of the equipment and protect them.
In his remarks, the Acting Chairman of the Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) Board, Professor Francis Sikoki, expressed delight and applauded the STEB for the good job done for the procurement of science equipment and to witness the distribution process of the equipment.
According to Sikoki, the EDTF had placed higher priority for Science and Technology Education and expressed gratitude for partnership with STEB, noting that, in the recent past, the EDTF had collaborated with them in the training of artisans and other technicians.
He further explained that science is one among the cardinal channels of creating new knowledge, which enhances quality of live as well as responding to societal needs and global challenges with improve education.
The Acting Board chairman therefore use the opportunity to highlights some of the achievement of the Trust Fund, which include caring for about 4000 students in the Model Secondary Schools, Training of Secondary School Students in ICT, provision of infrastructure and facilities for the Model Secondary Schools as well as the provision of water projects in selected school under WASH programme.
Professor Sikoki congratulated Professor Ayebaemi Spiff and members of STEB for the quick response and reassured of the EDTF commitment to partnership with them and to continue to support the project in phases.
The Executive Secretary of the EDTF, Dr. (Mrs.) Alice Atuwo, while reacting to some of the demands made by the Principals, admonished them to make best use of the equipment and show of accountability.
Dr. Atuwo informed them that, the Monitoring and Evaluation Team of the EDTF will periodically visit the schools to ensure the items are put to good use.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the STEB, Professor Ayebaemi Spiff said, the Board had visited over 200 schools in the State and identified the dire need for intervention in science education.
Professor Spiff appreciated the EDTF for supporting the programme of STEB and for the cordiality that exists between the two boards.
On behalf of the principals from the benefiting schools, Dr. Awobi Donbebefa thanked the EDTF as well as STEB and the Hon. Commissioner for Education for the provision of the equipment and assured their preparedness to judiciously put the equipment to good use.
He further appealed for the provision of science teachers to manage the equipment as well as to refurbish the dilapidated science labs in the schools.
