By March this year, the new model secondary schools embarked upon by the state government are expected to commence admissions, Governor Chibuike Amaechi has said.

Dropping the hint at a thanksgiving service in honour of a member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Kenneth Daubry at Kingdom Covenant Ministries(Rehoboth Christian Centre) yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rt Hon Amaechi said his administration was poised at using education to transform the fortunes of the state.

“ The first assignment for me is the reduction of poverty and that is why we built the new primary and secondary schools”.

Amaechi believed that high quality education was capable of reducing poverty, disclosing that the State Government had commenced the training and re-training of teachers in the state.

The Governor further noted that already the government was sponsoring about 300 indigenes on special overseas scholarships yearly which in the nearest future would boost manpower development essential for growth.

He noted that 20 percent of admissions into the new model schools would be open for those who do not have a local government but should have proof of tax payment,”we are starting this March with 1000 intakes per school and the school would be managed by Indians”, he added.

Throwing more light on how the new schools would be run, Governor Amaechi explained that once this year’s budget was passed, about N800million had been budgeted for the running of each of the 24 schools covering accommodation, free feeding and free tuition.

He also explained that beside education, his administration was poised in providing free medicare with the building of new health centres across the local government areas.

Aside the indigenes, he stated that every resident of the state was entitled to free medicare once the proof of tax payment was confirmed.

Governor Amaechi however lauded Hon Daubry and his wife for being steadfast in their faith in God, recalling that they supported him with prayers during his trying times.

In his sermon, Senior Pastor of Rehoboth Christian Centre, Rev. Frank Philemon Aikins harped on the need for human relationships.

Rev Aikins maintained that genuine and sustained relationships not only build society but promote peace and understanding, “relationship is above feelings, relationship is above power and relationship is not religious or political”, he said.

He pointed out that the country was facing crisis today because of poor relationships amongst the citizenry.

While thanking God for His mercies on him and family, Hon Daubry promised to use his position to promote his faith, stressing that christians were the salt of the earth.