The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has called on members of the National Council on Education (NCE) to make the nation’s educational system functional and self-reliant through positive policies that would enhance the education sector.
The governor added that making the education self-reliant was the only way to bring true freedom to the nations’ prosperity.
Wike made the call, last Monday, while declaring open a five-day technical session at the ongoing 64th meeting of the National Council on Education (NCE) holding at Dr Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, the governor, who said that he believed in the power of education as a catalyst for social change to foster prosperity and development, explained his unreserved commitment to ensuring the delivery of quality education to all and sundry across the state.
He described the theme of the 64th NCE meeting “Education For Self-Reliance, A Tool For The Achievement Of Education 2030 Agenda”, as very apt, adding that it was relevant to the NEW Rivers Vision of his administration.
The governor said, “As policy makers, we have a responsibility to make education functional for our children.
“As a government, we have constructed, renovated, and upgraded several schools; we have streamlined the process of private participation in the provision of quality, inclusive and equitable education delivery.
“Above all, in providing dividends of good governance to our people, this present administration is guided by the vision that except we make education functional and relevant to the needs of the individual, the prosperity of the future cannot be feasible”, he stated
The state chief executive used the opportunity to remind the delegates of their crucial role to transform the educational sector, adding that as technocrats, the decision of any government depended on their advice.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Architect Sonny Echono said the Federal Government has through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) issued certificates to 70 newly-approved private Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to increase access to technical education as well as provide alternative route to higher education to advance technology and science development in the country.
Echono averred that the effort was geared towards shaping responsible and accountable citizens in the community, which was consistent with the national developmental objectives as articulated in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERCP) as well as Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
According to him, the present administration has exhibited not only political will, but also committed the required resources towards guaranteeing functional education and life-long learning through establishment of more centres for adult education, Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTCs) and polytechnics.
“The implications of establishing additional public polytechnics and issuing licence to private polytechnics as well as Innovative Enterprise Institutions (IEIs) is that future graduates will create wealth and employment which shall alleviate poverty and enhance the ability of citizens to sustain themselves”, he stated.
The permanent secretary opined that the importance of education for self-reliance cannot be over-emphasized.
Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Mr Dagogo Adonye Hart, had said the educational goal of the government was to provide quality education at all levels and achieve improved learning outcomes for children in the state, adding that the government has taken systematic steps towards increasing the tempo to ensure the delivery of inclusive, equitable and quality education, through the provision of resources, infrastructure and competent teachers needed to increase learning in line with global best practices.