The Rivers State Government has expressed readiness to ensure the sustainability of all the investments it has so far made in the development of education.

The Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, made the declaration at a One-day stakeholders’ forum on Education Policy 2012  Port Harcourt recently.

The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. George Feyii, stated that the sustainability of the state education policy would be achieved through proper management of schools using available human and material resources.

He stressed that the government would provide educational guidelines and laws that would assist in the proper management of schools from the kindergarten to the university level.

In an address, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, said the forum was organised to present the draft document of Rivers State Education Policy 2012, and the Rivers State School-Based Management Committee’s Policy and Guide Book for stakeholders’ review and input.

Dame Lawrence-Nemi expressed optimism that the education policy would be a consensus document aimed at satisfying the educational aspirations of both government and the public.

The commissioner called on stakeholders in the state to lift education to its highest level in terms of infrastructure, management and  quality, as according to her, “education for all is the responsibility of all.”

Also speaking, chairman of the occasion, Emeritus Prof. Tekena Tamuno, stated that the need for sustainability of Rivers State education policy could never be over-emphasised.

He recommended a policy time-frame of about five years before it could be reviewed.

Stakeholders who offered  their views unanimously agreed that adequate funding of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) would help the policy achieve its desired objectives.

Dignitaries at the forum include the Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Ajienka, Vice Chancellor, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Prof. Rosemund Green-Osahogulu, Rector, Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, Sir Obiankor Wolu-Elechi, Rector, Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Dr. Hillary Wordu, Chairman, Senior Secondary Schools Board (SSSB), Chief Allwell Onyesoh, Chairman, Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB), Sir Alli Oruitemeka and other board members.

Eunice Choko –Kayode