Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has said that his administration would continue to accord priority to the training and welfare of teachers in the state.

Dickson said this while declaring open a five-day capacity building workshop for primary school teachers in Yenagoa, jointly organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission and the government.

Describing teachers as the most critical component in the educational sector, Dickson said the advancement of society depended on the quality of its teachers.

He said, while the administration strived to equip teachers with modern methods of teaching and instructional materials, they were expected to put in their best in imparting requisite knowledge.

The governor also underscored the need for teachers, as custodians of children, to return to the basics by focusing on methods of instilling the right values in them, and announced the completion of the Teachers Training Institute as a part of the state College of Education, Sagbama.

He said henceforth, teachers were expected to pass through the institution, to get certified in learning and character before being absorbed in the school system.

Dickson announced that government would have regular interactions with headmasters and principals and decried lobbying by teachers on postings to urban areas.

According to him, some teachers will be sent abroad for training, to enable them to train others.

The Commissioner for Education, Chief Adikumo Salo, said 2,000 teachers would participate in the workshop while additional 3,000 would undergo similar training by September 17.

The acting Executive-Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, Prof. C.O Onocha, said the commission placed priority on the continuous development of the professional skills of teachers.

Onocha said the release of N140 million to the state for the ongoing training demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to the interest of teachers.