By Anne Azuka
Delta State Government has admonished parents to take advantage of the free education in the state to register their children and wards in public primary schools in the next academic session.
Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Hon. Samuel Mariere gave the admonition at Obiaruku, headquarters of Ukwuani local government council in continuation of the board’s engagement with critical stakeholders in the public primary education system across the 25 local government areas of Delta State.
Hon Mariere noted that education at the primary level is totally free in all the public schools in the state, adding that the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has ordered full implementation of the policy.
The SUBEB Boss reminded parents that the next academic year starts in few weeks time and urged all to make good use of the opportunity to lay good foundation for their children and wards.
Mariere, a two-terms member of the Delta State House of Assembly and former Commissioner in the state, disclosed that Governor Oborevwori’s reforms at the public primary education subsector were already yielding results.
He said the target is to bring back quality and high standards as it were in the old glorious days of public primary education in the country.
The SUBEB Chairman, explained that the ongoing training and retraining of teachers is to improve performances in the schools and would continued under his leadership to enhance quality in the education sector.
Mariere charged all to take the training and retraining seriously as government has committed huge resources to the capacity building programme.
The SUBEB Boss enjoined community leaders to help select people with interest in education as members of the School Based Management Committee, saying that the SBMC was an initiative to further promote quality assurance and enforce discipline and standards in public primary schools in the state.
Hon Mariere informed the stakeholders that a provision of seven billion naira was made for construction of new block of classrooms, renovations of old ones and provision of school furnitures in this year’s budget.
The former Lawmaker said new teaching curriculum was ready to be implemented in schools across the state, emphasizing that the present board was committed to providing the very best education in public primary schools in the state.
He disclosed that special training for Head Teachers on grade level 15 would commenced in few weeks time, adding that they would be deployed to the local education authority offices to supervise the schools.
He lauded stakeholders for their participation and contributions in the engagement meeting and urged them to join in the campaign for massive enrollment in public primary schools in the state.
Chairman, Ukwuani local government, Mr Possible Ajede assured the board of collaboration to raise standards in public primary schools in the locality.
Secretary, Local Education Authority in the Local Government Area, Mr. Monday Onakpoma described the stakeholders meeting as one of its kind and commended the ongoing reforms in the state’s public primary schools.
He appreciated the SUBEB Chairman for the release of a mini bus to the local education authority for monitoring as well as extensive renovation of school buildings, provision of furniture and advancement in agricultural demonstration and sport programmes in the local government area.
The Okpala-uku of Obiaruku kingdom, Jacob Egwunatum assured the board that communities in the local government area would support the government reforms and offered prayers to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to succeed in all his lofty plans for the state.
Hon Mariere was accompanied by the three members of the board, including Mr Chukwuemeka Uwadia, Delta North, Onome Akporere, Delta Central and Mrs Josephine Ejheren, Delta South, as well as the Permanent Secretary Subeb, Mr Bryan Unini and other management team.
