Education
As Model Secondary Schools Become Functional
When you say that Rivers State has become a model for education in Nigeria, you are no doubt saying the obvious.
The Rivers State educational sector witnessed a massive transformation which has made the state to become a model for other states in the country to follow.
This educational system, many have described as world-class which some states are silently emulating.
As the chairman, Association of Primary School Head- teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Comrade Tennyson Amadi, said recently, it appeared to be a taboo or crime for the state government to renovate the old school buildings which have lasted for decades.
Instead, it was a total pulling down of old and dilapidated primary school buildings and erecting a world-class edifice with state-of-the-art facilities that cannot be compared with any school in Nigeria.
It is the completely constructed and furnished primary schools which have football field with synthetic tracks, larger capacity devotion hall, sick bay with modern medical equipment, library and generating sets.
Modern computer laboratory where the pupils can comfortably learn and operate like those who found themselves lucky in this jet age as well as headmasters’ offices furnished with their own computers, which make teaching and learning easier and faster.
In the case of the kindergarten and nursery sections, there are recreation ground for their own activities.
Pupils are supplied with text books, school uniform and physical education (PE) wears, school bags, shoes, sandals and socks.
These and more which are coming up soon are enough to convince us that the state is indeed a model for education.
The new model secondary schools being constructed by the state government also have well designed libraries that are world-class, sick bays, sports facilities, information and communications technology (ICT) equipment.
The dormitories are constructed in rooms with two beds space, wardrobe, reading table and chairs with the floors completely tiled.
How else can pupils and students of these model schools be comfortable. This also shows that the Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi means well for the people of Rivers State.
And I think that he may have felt that the legacy he would leave for Rivers State is good and qualitative education.
This is the kind of education that is free and compulsory for every child of school age.
It could be recalled that before now, some pupils and students in some schools were sitting on the floor because there were no sits. Others sat under the trees and in fact it was pathetic.
Such system could be described as one that was abandoned and nobody was interested in dealing with those issues.
As the state gets set for the commencement of academic activities at the new model secondary schools, the Ministry of Education has emphasised its readiness to tackle the challenges that lie ahead,.
The Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, said the Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi was prepared and determined to transform the educational sector, so he brought in a team of specialists from World Bank to go round and see what kind of advice they could offer apart from his own knowledge.
She noted that when the specialists came up with their own report, it was easier for him to build those ideas into his vision.
This, she said, was how the governor came about building model primary and secondary schools since the infrastructure he met on ground were in deplorable condition.
The Education Commissioner noted that the governor came on board and transformed the sector.
She recalled that between 2008 and 2011, the state government dealt mainly on infrastructure.
She assured that efforts are being made to ensure that the model secondary schools are functional and will take-off effectively.
According to her, “Also we have to take a look at the management of the school. The cost of managing the school and test-running of the facilities in the school before normal academic activities commence.”
She emphasised that the school managers are already on ground and very soon, teachers would be recruited, stressing that everything would be ready before the students are admitted into the school.
The Education boss explained that the managers of the schools are a big consortium known as Educomps, who specialise in managing schools around the world, like in England, India and the United States of America (USA).
The criteria for admission of students, she explained, is that they would sit for an examination, the scoring points would be determined by the school managers, stressing that admission would be based on merit.
She emphasised that the admission into the model secondary schools is open to only students in public schools.
Concerning the requirement of teachers into the schools, “It would be based on merit also”, she stated.
Of course, we are aware of the training and re-training of teachers by Rivers State government in collaboration with the British Council and good-spirited organisations.
“I can remember one that took place recently where 40 English Language teachers were trained.”
According to a Director of Higher Education in the State Ministry of Education, Mrs Mae Solomon, English is the major language of communication in Nigeria especially, here in Rivers State, stressing that other subjects are taught in English.
Therefore, she said, a good grasp of the language would enhance the performance of the students in other subjects because, before you answer any question, you have to understand it first.
Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi maintained that Rivers State is a model.
“We have quite a number of people who came to us and say to us, we need the model of your primary and secondary schools.
“When you talk about benchmarking in education, Rivers State really comes top,” she emphasised.
The Education Commissioner disclosed that there are about 24 model secondary schools across the sate, stressing that five or seven functional model secondary schools are being expected by the end of this year.
Dame Lawrence-Nemi expressed optimism that before the end of this political dispensation, in 2015, all the model schools would be functional.
She maintained that the model schools would be handed over to the host communities as soon as they become functional so that the children would start benefitting from what the governor has done for the state regarding good education.
Though, she explained that the host communities can come in because of the local content preference but the general management of the schools would be done by the consultants, Educomps, whose duty is to recruit people from anywhere.
Her words: “I doubt that there would be any challenges, there won’t be much. When you are talking about education, fine, you are talking about the curriculum, infrastructure; challenges might be getting the children to go to school.
Our greatest challenge would be yes, we have done all these wonderful things in our schools, let’s have the children go to school, not with the Commissioner nor the Permanent Secretary.”
The education commissioner assures that the teachers in Rivers State are ready and willing to teach so the challenges might be with the parents and their children.
She noted that the Rivers State Ministry of Education has domesticated its curriculum last year, saying every school is operating the same curriculum.
The truth is that the model primary and secondary school buildings established by the Rivers State government have met international standard.
One may also be tempted to describe the schools as university buildings.
It should be interesting to us in Rivers State that people from other states are coming to emulate this successful gesture by the state government.
When the model secondary schools become functional with full academic activities and the children start benefitting, we will appreciate what the governor, Chibuike Amaechi has done for the state regarding the educational sector.
Eunice Choko-Kayode
The Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Alabo David Briggs and his Post Primary Schools Board, counterpart, Dr. Sam Emejuru recently embarked on a joint visit to Model Girls Secondary School, Mbodo Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Arera of Rivers State.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after interacting with the students, Alabo Briggs said both of them were in the school to know how the students are faring, how happy they are, and to also know their areas of need and then take pragmatic decisions that would enhance the wellbeing of the students.
Describing the school as the only boarding school in Rivers State made up of Senior and Junior Secondary, the UBE boss said the visit has actually afforded them the opportunity to know what is lacking in the school, and promised that every machinery would be adequately put in place to ensure that the school is made more attractive and students well taken care of.
He further maintained that the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and staff of the school must rise to the occasion so as to bring back the lost glory of the school and ensure that the students are treated and well handled like their own children.
Corroborating the UBE boss, Dr. Sam Emejuru of the Post Primary School promised that everything possible would be done to reposition the school, and appealed to all concerned to be patient.
During the visit, the two Board chairmen and their members met with the school authorities wherein issues bordering on the school were discreetly ironed out and some good changes made.
Alabo Briggs also gave cash to some of the students that performed well in the essay competition that took place in Port Harcourt.
The students were also given cartons of sanitary pads to mark the International Day of the Girl Child which was celebrated all over the world recently.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) support programme on report writing for Chief Supervisors and Evaluators of the Local Government Areas took place recently at the UBE Board Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Addressing the participants, the Board member in charge of Supervision/Monitoring, Chief Nwuke Anucha, described the programme as very interesting and educative as it is aimed at broadening the knowledge of the Chief Supervisors and Evaluators on report writing.
While thanking UBEC for the initiative, Chief Anucha also commended the resource persons who came from UBEC Abuja for doing a good job and appealed to the participants to see the support programme on report writing as an opportunity to do better.
Also speaking, the Board member, Project/Technical, Dr. Walson Ominini described the programme as a good one that all the participants must take seriously for the good of Rivers State.
Ominini used the medium to announce the personnel audit for staff of the Local Government Education Authorities in the three Senatorial zones coming up next week at the Board Headquarters adding that any staff of the LGEA who does not take part in the Audit should regard himself or herself as not being a staff of UBE.
In her vote of thanks, the Director, Quality Assurance, Mrs. Nnenna Osumenya thanked UBEC for the programme, and described it as a welcomed development.
She particularly thanked the Executive Chairman of the Board, Alabo David Briggs and the Board members for giving the programme the needed attention.
By: Akujobi Amadi
In cognizance of the value of reading in educational, career and knowledge pursuits, TotalEnergies Joint Venture(JV) Asset has committed itself to instilling the habit in students of secondary schools to enable them succeed in their academic pursuits and become good leaders of tommorow.
This, it is achieving through its Annual Book Reading and Open Day programme.
This year’s event, organised for Senior Secondary Schools in Rivers State,with the theme, ‘The World Is A Maze; Navigate It — Read’ and held at the Event Centre, TotalEnergies Office, PortHarcourt, explored the book, ‘Unexpected Joy At Dawn’ by Ghanaian author, Alex Agyei Agyiri.
Participating schools chosen across Port Harcourt included Government Technical College, PortHarcourt; Bishop Crowther Memorial Secondary School, Rumuobiakani; Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary School; Community Secondary School, Rumuomasi, and Hilltop Prime International College.
Others were Community Secondary School, Amadi-Ama; Government Senior Secondary School, Elekahia; Community Secondary School, Nkpogu; Dietams International Schools; and Community Secondary School, Abuloma.
In his address, the Deputy Managing Director, Joint Venture Asset, TotalEnergies EP, Nigeria Limited, Olivier Cassassoles, said reading habit remains a major essential needed for life’s development in information, direction and character building, and stressed the need for the students, many of whom he said would grow to become leaders to cultivate and sustain the culture.
Cassassoles, who was represented by the Executive Director, JV Asset, PortHarcourt, Obi Imemba, quoted former American President, Barack Obama’s words, “reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible” and stated that “this clearly aligns with the theme of the day and implies that in order to successfully navigate the complexities of life, one needs to read”.
Cassassoles said “as students, many of you will grow to be leaders and leaders need a lot of information to stay relevant. The books you read will shape your future and through them you will find wisdom to make a difference”.
According to him, the book reading event is one that the company holds dear to heart as it promotes the culture of reading among students in Nigeria.
While encouraging the students to make conscientious effort to research good books with themes and characters that align with what they intend to do in future, Cassassoles expressed the hope that the students would commit themselves to a life of reading, adding that “I expect that you will be leaving here with a clearer idea of the career path you want to pursue “.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ovy Chinedum Chukwuma, described this year’s theme as ‘most appropriate’ at a time when students have abandoned the text book for not only the phone – Whatsapp, Twitter etcetera but other vices.
Represented by the Technical Adviser to the Commissioner, Dr Joy Nwamaka Joseph, Chukwuma noted that reading is an effective tool for engaging students in critical thinking, saying “a student that reads focuses attention on the task at hand, immersing them in information and improving his/her concentration and memory”, insisting that students must read in order to navigate this maze-like world successfully.
The Commissioner commended TotalEnergies for “always seeking to improve the educational standards of our pupils, students, under/post graduates in our institutions and for inspiring them to develop the habit of reading as a life style”.
Earlier, the Country Communications Manager, TotalEnergies, Charles Ebereonwu, revealed that the annual reading event is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) targeted at making the best of future leaders.
In his closing remarks, the Special Adviser, People and Talent Management, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Samuel Nkwo, lauded the students for going beyond reading the book to taking lessons there from.
“What has happened here today has given us encouragement that this is a good thing to do and that we should continue to do it” Nkwo said.
Highlights of the event included reading and discussion of the book, ‘Unexpected Joy At Dawn’, questions and answers session and presentation of gift items including school bags, solar lamps, books among others to the students.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu