A total of 225 public secondary schools and five technical schools have taken delivery of educational materials courtesy of Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF).
The benefitting schools are drawn from the eight Local Government Areas across Bayelsa.
The items include specialized studio desks and chairs for designs and technical drawings, technical drawing and studio sets, books, notebooks, lesson notes diaries, teaching aids amongst other items.
Dr Gentle Emelah, Commissioner for Education,while speaking at the handing over ceremony, commended the EDTF for meeting its mandate as an interventionist agency in critical areas of need in the education sector.
He acknowledged that previous tenures of the EDTF board under the watch of the ministry have performed creditably leading to improved learning outcomes across all levels in education.
He said that the government has approved an increase in the funding of the boarding schools to ensure adequate feeding for the over 5,000 students.
He urged the Principals of the boarding schools to effectively supervise the vendors and caterers to ensure that the state gets value for money.
Prof Ebimieowei Etebu, Executive Secretary of the EDTF in his welcome remarks, said that he was delighted to see the delivery of the materials to strengthen the foundations of education in Bayelsa.
“Firstly I want to express heartfelt gratitude to Bayelsa State Governor for his resolute support to the Trust Fund. I am equally happy for the synergy existing between the EDTF and other education stakeholders.
“It shows the power of shared vision in the quest for a brighter future for our children. Needless to emphasise that education is the bedrock of any thriving society.
“As Nelson Mandela famously said: Education is the most powerful weapon which can change the world. In Bayelsa, we are committed to our young people with this weapon, empowering them to be leaders, innovators and trailblazers of tomorrow,” Etebu said.
The executive secretary noted that the learning materials were more than tools but they hold the key to unlocking potentials, sparking curiosity and fostering a love for learning.
High Chief Fidelis Agbiki, Chairman of the EDTF board urged the beneficiaries to judiciously use the learning materials only for the puroses for which they are meant to promote learning.
“This board is operating on the mantra: ‘Business Unusual’ and we take monitoring and evaluation very seriously so we want the Principals to ensure judicious use of these materials.” Agbiki said.
Dr Daniel Charles, Chairman, Bayelsa House of Assembly Committee on Education urged the EDTF to ensure that schools in rural and remote communities were accommodated.
He lauded the EDTF for implementation of the objectives of intervening in crucial areas of need in the educational sector across all levels.
He said that the Bayelsa Ministry of Education and Bayelsa government deserves commendation and credits for the successes recorded by the EDTF.
Speaking on behalf of the benefiting public secondary schools, Mr Ibegu Robins, Principal, Government Model Secondary School Ogbia appreciated the EDTF for the gesture.
He observed that the spread of the intervention would reach close to 95 per cent of students in the Bayelsa public schools.
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