Education: Bayelsa Spends N3 Billion Counterpart Fund
Over N3 billion has been spent by Bayelsa State as counterpart fund in the Education sector in the last six years, according to the State Commissioner for Education, Jonathan Obuebite.
The gesture, he stated, was aimed at attracting Federal Government’s support and presence for the state.
Obuebite stated this on Thursday in Yenagoa at the ongoing Inter-Ministerial Briefing as part of the activities lined up for the 6th Anniversary of the Governor Henry Seriake Dickson’s administration.
He stated that the declaration of state of emergency and the huge investment in the educational sector since 2012 has continued to yield positive results in contrast to the deplorable condition of schools inherited by the present administration.
The Commissioner said the infrastructures were in a state of decay while the performance of the students at externally conducted examination (SSSCE and NECO) were nothing to write home about.
Obuebite said with the declaration of the state of emergency, the state has now become one of the leading states in the education sector.
He cited the construction of headmasters’ quarters, teachers’ quarters and six classroom blocks in more than 500 Primary Schools, renovated over 160 Secondary Schools across the state, introduction of boarding schools and free school feeding programme.
Others listed include the accreditation of the courses at the state-owned Niger Delta University, establishment of the University of Africa, Toru Orua and Bayelsa State Polytechnic at Aleibiri, and funding of scholarship programmes within and outside the country.
The Commissioner commended Governor Dickson for his vision and commitment, especially in conceptualizing the Ijaw National Academy, and expressed appreciation to the State House of Assembly for passing education related bills into law, which he noted would go a long way to sustaining the laudable educational programmes of the present administration.
