Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi will today hand over appointment letters to the newly employed 13, 000 teachers who successfully passed the teachers recruitment exercise in the state.

Governor Amaechi who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence Nemi, disclosed this when she received a UNESCO delegation, stating that the teachers’ appointment was part of moves by the current administration to ensure quality education in the state.

Dame Lawrence-Alice also commended Governor Amaechi for giving much attention to the education sector, stating that UNESCO would assist the state government to undertake an assessment of the number of children that are out of school in the state.

“Not that the Minsitry of Education did not know the figures, but we want professionals to make their assessment and tell us, particularly, now that Nigerians are jittering that about 10.5 million children are out of school.

And at this time, every state is fighting hard to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and I think in Rivers State, we have done well on infrastructure. We have gone into training of our teachers and employment of 13,000 teachers. And these teachers by Wednesday this week will pick up their letters, and we shall commence induction course for them, and they will also be sent to the classrooms for training for three months.

By September, all the 13,000 teachers will be in our model schools, Junior Secondary Schools as well as the Senior Secondary School.

This is the biggest employment Governor Amaechi has done in the education sector, and the employment of teachers was not an easy task for us. That was why the Ministry of Education took time to advertise, and we invited JAMB to get them write their examination, marked the scripts and gave us the results. We also invited Price Water House Copper to screen the teachers. We equally engaged a consultant to confirm their qualifications for us”, Lawrence-Nemi said.

She further gave the indication that teachers employed by the Rivers State Government must be committed to their assignment and professional calling towards ensuring quality education in the state.

“For us in Rivers State, we believe that for you to be a teacher, you must be committed, and as I speak to you, the teachers we have are very much committed and they are also appreciating what Governor Amaechi has done, particularly in the education sector”, she said.

She added that by September this year, about 250 model primary schools in the state would be functional.

Earlier, the Director and Representatives of the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Professor Hassana Alidou said she was in the state to examine what the Ministry of Education was doing in promoting quality education in the state.

Professor Alidou also said, UNESCO would examine the method of access to education, and the extent of quality education in the state, and ensure it was in consonance with world standard.

“On behalf of my director-general who masterminded our visit to the Ministry of Education, I wish to extend the appreciation of our leader, Dauda Toure, and also extend to you the warm greetings of the Resident Coordinator of the UN System”, Professor Alidou said.

Shortly after an assessment tour of some model schools built by Governor Amaechi administration, Professor Alidou commended the efforts of Governor Amaechi for providing quality educational infrastructure, learning facilities and conducive learning environment for pupils and students in public schools.

“I think Governor Amaechi has made huge investment in the education sector and human capital development programmes, the children are neatly dressed, and with free food, the children will be encouraged. It is a comprehensive approach to the educational system”, Professor Alidou said.