Dickson establishes new boarding schools

BAYELSA State government has said five new boarding  secondary schools would take off this month.

Speaking at the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area, shortly on his arrival from annual vacation, the governor disclosed that the students for the schools had been selected.

He told the Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) boarding students, who had completed their compulsory holiday classes he would embark on a tour of all the boarding model schools along with stakeholders in the education sector to inspect and ascertain the facilities on the ground.

He described the compulsory holiday classes at the Academy as the first of its kind in the state.

The governor said the approval for the initiative was borne out of the need to improve on the State’s ranking in WAEC and other external examinations in the country.

Accordingly, he directed that during every long vacation, SSS 3 students in the model boarding secondary schools should assemble at the Academy for such classes for the purpose of grooming them for national examinations.

Dickson also called on the students to reciprocate the government’s investments by redoubling their efforts, as well as shun all forms of social vices, such as drug abuse and cultism.

“It’s because of the importance we attach to your future and the investments we are making in education, I decided to stop here before proceeding to Government House. When they told me, today was the last day for the programme, I said, I will like to be part of it.

“The reason the government approved this programme is that; we want to go higher in every external examination. We are proud of the success story so far, especially, in WAEC, but we can do better next year,” he said.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Education, Elder Markson Fefegha, expressed the government’s determination to continually prioritise education and commended the restoration administration for its strides in education.

Member representing Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Douye Diri, used the occasion to announce the institution of an inter-secondary schools debate for secondary schools in his constituency, with N500,000 as first prize, N300,000, second prize and  N200,000, for the 3rd prize.

Also speaking, the Programme Manager of the Summer Classes and Principal of the Nembe National Grammar School, Mr. George Egi said, the essence of the programme was to expose the students to all the subject areas and assist them in covering up the syllabus for the Joint Admission Matriculation Board Examinations and other external examinations.

Egi also commended the government for providing free accommodation, feeding, books, medical care, among others, for the students, noting that, they have benefited immensely from the programme.

Highlights of the event was drama and dance presentations, as well as special cash awards to the overall three best students in arts and science, the overall best students in every subject area, including the overall best performing student, Master  Justice Benstowe, who came tops in Chemistry, Biology and Physics.

The event also marks the very first time in the history of Bayelsa State, where the Government and indeed the Governor is making deliberate efforts to prepare students for external examinations and instituting it as a standing policy.