Report by Ademu Seidu H
KOGI State Government restates its commitment to improving public schools in the State.
The Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones stated this during an unscheduled visit to Government Secondary School, Itobe and Local Government Science Secondary School Ajaokuta in Kogi State.
At Itobe Government Secondary School, his first point of call, Hon. Wemi Jones, disclosed that the enormity of challenges facing the sector necessitated his visit to the school to ascertain first hand information before settling down with relevant stake holders to proffer solutions.
He affirmed that the State Government under Alhaji Yahaya Bello is irrevocably committed to revamp the education sector for optimal performance to achieve this.
He noted that the government and the teachers must be on the same page to meaningfully engaging the students in a robust academic activities, as well as school debates, inter school activities, sports competition among others.
Historically he noted that Kogi State was reputed to be the academic hub of the Northern Nigeria, this feat he maintained, is still achievable with right attitude and discipline on the part of teachers and students.
While carrying out inspection at Itobe, the Commissioner lamented at the devastating effect of rain storm on school buildings across the State and called for stakeholders support and intervention to ameliorate the situation.
He tasked the school heads to work hand in hand with Parents, Teachers Association (PTA) and School Base Management Committee (SBMC) to properly engage with old boys of schools and prominent members of their communities for support as government alone cannot shoulder the entire responsibility.
Hon. Wemi Jones said the loudable gains made by the administration in the security sector would not be allowed to relapsed as provision of quality education for the youth is key to the eradication of poverty, violence and social vices in the society.
The Commissioner charged the students to take their academic activities very seriously as whatever they choose to be in the future lies in their hands, urging them to justify the huge investment on them.
At the Local Government Science Secondary School, Ajaokuta, the Commissioner urged the School Principal to put into effective use the available Home Economics equipments abandoned in the school as well as maintaining a minimum hygiene standard for a healthy school environment.
The Commissioner who was accompanied on the visit by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Eric Aina Dele and some Directors of the Ministry said the visit was to enable him see things for himself and promised to sustain the visit to other institutions and parastatals under the Ministry.
The highlights of the visit was general inspections of the two schools by the Commissioner and other staffs of the Ministry.
In their separate remarks, the Principals of Government Secondary School, Itobe Mr. Michael Ocheni and that of Local Government Science Secondary School, Ajaokuta Mr. Ocheje Sunday, commended Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello for the appointment of an action man Hon. Wemi Jones to head the Education sector, stating that the visit was the first of it’s kind since the establishment of their schools.
They assured him of their full cooperation by putting all his observation and directives into effective use.
