Port Harcourt Primary
School and Government Girls Secondary School, Oromenike last Friday emerged winners of this year’s poetry competition marking the 2014 World Poetry Day.
Fubara Divine of Port Harcourt Primary School, and Precious Chineme of Government Girls Secondary School, Oromenike emerged winners for the primary and secondary school, respectively.
Speaking at the occasion, which was held at the Port Harcourt Primary School, the state Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, stated that the event is part of the state government’s expression of its passion for the development of education in the state.
The commissioner, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Barrister Minabelem Michael-West, noted that the state has started reaping the benefit of its investment in education”, noting that “the state government is very much interested in delivery qualitative education.
She used the occasion to change teachers in the state-owned schools “to brace-up to the challenge of raising future leaders in the state. Teachers  should be up and doing while discharging their duties.
“They should know that as a state we are very much committed in chunning out educated citizens in order to groom people who are ready to drive the economy of the state, and the nation at large, in a positive direction”.
The state education boss further noted that the government has done a lot in transforming public schools by providing infrastructure and equipment, noting that “the investment in the education sector has made students public schools to be confident enough to stand their peers in the private schools across the country.
While describing poetry as a tool that could be used to promote dialogue among cultures and understanding between people, she said the study of poetry will enhance writing, reading and learning in the state.
“The dissemination of poetry helps to promote dialogue among cultures and understanding between peoples. The purpose of today’s celebration is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world and also to give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements”, she said.
Also speaking, the consultant to the Ministry of Education, Mrs Regina Oyegui, expressed satisfaction over the level of performance of the students  in the poetry competition.
According to her, “the students exhibited good command of English in their poems”.
On her part, the Head Teacher of Port Harcourt Primary School, Mrs Lizzy Oba, commended the state government for organising the poetry competition for students in the state, noting that “such programmes will improve students; interest in reading”.