Education
RSG Organises Workshop On School-Based Management
The Rivers State Ministry of Education has organised a three-day capacity workshop on school-based management.
The workshop with the theme: “Developing the Capacity of Major Stakeholders on the Concepts and Practice of School-Based Management” was kicked-off by the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence – Nemi, at the Model Primary School, Elekahia in Port Harcourt, recently.
Addressing participants at the ceremony, Dame Lawrence–Nemi said the aim of the workshop was to equip the stakeholders in education sector on the concepts and practice of school-based management.
The commissioner revealed that the workshop was also organised on the need to involve the local communities in the management of schools saying that communities would start managing their schools.
According to her, this is the one thing that Governor Chibuike Amaechi has introduced into our schools, which is school-based management.
“This would include the old boys, retired teachers and members of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) who would look after the schools and notify the state government when the teachers do not come to work”.
Since the inception of His Excellency, Governor Chibuike Amaechi as the Governor of Rivers State, education sector, she said, has received enough attention from the government.
Her words: “Since 2008 till date, education sector in Rivers State has witnessed total transformation with high level of infrastructure been put in place with the state-of-the-art model primary and secondary schools across the state as well as training of teachers”.
The objectives of school-based management according to the Education Boss is to enhance school governance for effective education service delivery as well as promote mechanisms for accountability in the school system.
“This means ensuring that public officials, community members and voluntary organisations involved in education delivery are answerable for their actions and there are redress mechanisms, if duties and commitments are not met”, she maintained.
She emphasised that the concept and practice of school-based management would promote and support schools to achieve set targets and benchmarks to yield better learning outcomes for children. The Commissioner who insisted that it will create greater awareness and provide feedback to the larger community on issues that have to do with school governance, management and regulations stressed that it would facilitate support for the disadvantaged group within the school community.
Also speaking at the ceremony, a participant, Chief Moses Adiela, acknowledged that the school-based management committee would stabilise school management in the state.
Chief Adiela, who is also the chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers(NUT) Rivers State branch, noted that the system is the only way to maintain infrastructure that the state government has provided in the schools.
Participants include education secretaries in the 23 local government areas of the state, members of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Head Teachers, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Community Leaders and Principals of Secondary Schools.
Eunice Choko-Kayode
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.