The Rivers State Ministry
of Education says it will continue to improve the human capacity development of its teachers so as to achieve effective service delivery.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi stated this at the flagging-off of the three day training of French Teachers in the state at the Alliance Francaise in Port Harcourt.
Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi said that the training and re-training of teachers is one of top priorities of the State Government.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Director, Higher Education in the Ministry Mrs Mae Solomon noted that the demand for French Language is on the increase and the need to expose the students to an alternative foreign language was necessary.
She also said that the State Government has promised to develop and enhance every sector in the teaching profession so as to get the best from the teachers.
The Commissioner tasked the teachers to meet up with the demands of the French Language in the 21st century stating that Port Harcourt is a leader in oil and gas and the language was necessary because of the economic importance of the city to the West African sub-region.
Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi commended the French Training Institute, Alliance Francaise for collaborating with the Ministry of Education in the training of French teachers in Rivers State and also commended Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for transforming the education sector in the state.
The President of Alliance Francaise Alek Musa said the partnership with the Ministry of Education is a good development. Alek Musa also said that Nigeria is a big country in the midst of French speaking countries and also the leading economy in the sub Saharan Africa.
He stated that as leaders the country should embrace the study of French Language so as to lead its followers (French Speaking countries in West Africa) successfully. The President of Alliance Francaise said it is very important for Nigerians to learn and speak the French Language.
The President of Nigerian Association of French Teachers, NAFT, Mrs. Sarah Blackduke commended the Rivers State Governor and the Commissioner for Education for the recent employment of 13,201 new teachers in Rivers State and also for sponsoring the three day-workshop for French teachers at the Alliance Francaise in Port Harcourt.
