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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has been urged to “continue with his good work, by employing more teachers and embarking on massive upgrade of schools in the state.”
He was also urge to “continue with the infrastructural development and expansion of classroom facilities to accommodate the teeming population of students in the state.”
Addressing participants at the Mandatory Continuing Professional Training (MCPT), South-South Zone, held by the All Nigeria Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) in Yenagoa, the zonal chairman, Mr. Steve Akpabio, who is also president of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the body, commended Governor Diri for his giant strides in the field of education in Bayelsa State.
Mr. Akpabio said that the Mandatory Continuing Professional Training (MCPT) is a capacity building programme designed by ANCOPSS to produce a 21st Century Principal, equipped with all the necessary skills and tools to function properly as a school administrator.
The theme for this year: ‘The Teacher Factor as An Impediment to Quality Secondary Education,’ has been described as very timely key to educational development in Nigeria.
“The programme seeks to among other things update the professional skills of managers of secondary schools in line with global best practices. Here we are in the oil rich state of Bayelsa to take part in the training exercise. I urge all colleagues especially those from other South South states to participate fully and actively in all the programmes during the training sessions,” Akpabio said.
In his address, the state president of ANCOPSS, Mr. Court Ogboseri Enebibodo, said Governor Douye Diri “is not only education friendly but a complete educationist.”
He said “It’s no news that the current Prosperity Administration of Governor Diri is making great impact in the Education sector in Bayelsa State.”
He listed some of the projects and programmes to include construction of three information Communication Technology (ICT) centers at Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Bayelsa State College of Health Technology, Otuogidi, (BYCOTECH) and Ijaw National Academy (INA) Kaiama.
Others, he said, include the partnership with Microsoft for the training of 12,000 teachers and learning of Ijaw languages in all schools across the state, successful accreditation of all programmes offered at the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) Amassoma, among others.
Also, chairman of Bayelsa State Post Primary School Board, High Chief Millionaire Asangba, said ANCOPSS is not an impediment to other unions as they are given their monthly imprests and reiterated the state government’s determination to ensure the training and retraining of teachers at the institute at Bolou – Orua.
The state president further said some of their challenges include, lack of staff quarters, standard laboratories, examination halls and standard libraries in most of the secondary schools.
He therefore called on the state government to ensure the inclusion of twenty-one (21) newly established schools in the imprest running payment scheme, provision of a vehicle or bus to ANCOPSS Bayelsa State for the running of the affairs of the association, provision of ANCOPSS Bayelsa State secretariat and implementation of the 65 year retirement age and 40 years pensionable service for teachers.
