Delta Govt. reiterates commitment to teachers’ welfare, education

Delta State Government has reiterated its commitment to teachers’ welfare and the provision of quality and effective education in the state.

Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie in the company of the Chairman, Post Primary Education Board (PPEB) Dr. Patrick Akporuno, Third Member PPEB, Mrs. Ifeomah Agboma,  Permanent Secretaries,  Mr. David Onokpe and Mr. Coleman Agbegha, as well as PPEB Zonal Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Chief Inspectors of Education of the Ministry, disclosed this at an interactive session with the Executive and members of All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, (ANCOPSS), Delta State Wing, held at Osadenis Mixed Secondary School, Asaba on Wednesday 5^th October, 2016.

Affirming the sincerity of the present administration to ensure success in the education system, the Commissioner stressed that despite the pervading harsh economic climate in the state and the nation, the present leadership of His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa was specifically passionate in revamping ailing school structures even as his zeal for technical and vocational education can be attested to within and beyond the state and in the human capital development of the professional teachers, as government has been magnanimous in approving study leave with pay for teachers in which over 30 teachers have benefitted in 2016, including 15 who are pursuing Doctorate degree programmes.

Mr. Ebie also pointed out that this administration would not relent in rewarding deserving teachers by way of promotion as demonstrated in the approval for promotion of 8,910 public secondary school teachers across the state consisting of 4,047 for the year 2015, and 4,863 for 2016.  He further stated that 39 teachers on salary grade levels 16 step 9 were recently approved for promotion to salary grade level 17.

He said that government has a renewed focus on French education in schools as a second language and has concluded plans for the redistribution of French teachers to the 56 pilot French teaching schools across the state including a training programme for French Teachers in not too distant future.   

Meanwhile, the Commissioner revealed that the Cognitive/Placement and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results have been released and the processes of admission have commenced in earnest. He added that going forward, the admission process into schools must be concluded within a stipulated timeframe and this year all admissions must be concluded by October 31, 2016 to enable everyone focus on academic matters.

On the issue of examination, Mr. Ebie revealed that henceforth all candidates sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) shall be responsible for such payments as government has noted the continual wastage of its payment of external examinations particularly WASSCE for candidates in state and the continued rise of registered absentee candidates, who connived with their parents and other persons to drift to miracle centres outside the state to write examination already paid for by the  state government. He however, said that government will continue to graciously fund all internal examinations including Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Cognitive/Placement Examination, First and Second Term Examinations and the Promotion Examinations in public schools.

He equally disclosed that government has considered it expedient for an upward review of boarding fees to N40, 000. 00 per term with effect from the 2016/17 session for boarding students in the state model schools and other public secondary schools in the state that offer boarding facilities in order to meet the economic realities of the day as well as assist the schools in providing decent feeding and increased maintenance of the facilities in such schools.

Mr. Ebie stated that government in its consideration of the cardinal role of schools sports in the overall school health and in line with the yearnings of the public has approved the re-introduction of N200.00 NSSF levies, per term in order to enable schools meet up with the school sports component of the curriculum  and in particular conduct and participate in the compulsory inter-house sports competitions.

He reiterated State government’s commitment to zero tolerance on collection of levies under any guise by school heads, Chief Inspectors of Education and Local Government Education Secretaries or anyone involved in the administration of Schools. He thereafter, emphasised that PTA collections were permissible but must be at the instance and in conjunction with parents, subject to prescribed guidelines and approval by the Ministry.

While congratulating the teachers, whom he described as great, Mr. Ebie charged them to cultivate the culture of diligence, hard work, professionalism and administrative competence in all ramifications.