IN a bid to improve education, the Bayelsa state government has concluded arrangement to commence Boarding school system in four model secondary schools in the State.
It was gathered that admission is in process into the four schools, namely, St Jude’s Girls Secondary School JGSS, Yenagoa, Nembe
National Grammar School NNGS, Nembe, Government Secondary School GSS, Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Secondary School SISS, Oporoma.
The first batch of students arrived the schools on Sunday, with the formal issuance and presentation of items including blankets, mattresses, pillows, mosquito nets, notebooks, textbooks and uniforms by top government functionaries on Sunday and at St Jude’s Girls Secondary School on Monday.
Presenting the items, the state Commissioner of Education, Elder Markson Fefegha said the Governor Henry Seriake Dickson administration has recorded another milestone with the commencement of boarding system in the four model schools.
Fefegha noted that the development is as a result of Governor Dickson’s pledge to transform the Ijaw nation and since then, the governor has been building the required infrastructure but needed the human capital investment.
According to him, the admission of over 400 students, St Jude’s will invigorate and revitalise the system while reiterating state government determination to give the students the best education as well as free meals thrice daily.
While making his presentation, the state Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite said Bayelsa State is making history 20 years after its creation with over N50 billion investments in education.
Obuebite explained that with the provision of facilities such as libraries and laboratories in the model schools, the state is not trying to measure up to other states in the country, but measuring up to the developed world.
He urged the students to leave behind their attitudes at home and imbibe the culture of the school environment as they are being prepared as future leaders that will take the state to a higher level.
The principal, Mrs Cecilia Apreala expressed appreciation to Governor Dickson for his wisdom in establishing the boarding system which was out of the reach of most parents and used the occasion to advise the new students on proper hostel conduct.
Apreala assured parents that their children were in good hands as she is a mother and counsellor who was once a student of the school, later transferred there as a teacher and presently the principal.
Some students including Miss Beauty Marshall who was recognised for her exemplary leadership quality by Elder Fefegha also thanked Governor Dickson for making it possible for them to learn under a more conducive and comfortable environment.
However, a tour of St Jude’s Girls Secondary School showed it has well equipped Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories, a library, dining hall, classrooms, two hostels that can accommodate 500 students among others.
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