Dickson swears in two more Commissioners, wants education restructured
Ajigi Tomiwa
Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson has sworn-in two commissioners with a charge to the commissioner for Education, Deacon Markson Fefegha, to restructure the education sector by collaborating with stakeholders and streamline efforts made in the sector in the last four years.
This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday night by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Daniel Iworiso-Markson. He said Dickson threw the challenge during the inauguration Government House, Yenagoa.
Gov. Dickson called on Fefegha to expedite action in the completion of the model secondary schools, with some of them at 90 per cent completion stage, to enable the boarding schools commence academic work by September this year.
Also inaugurated by the governor was Chief Collins Cocodia, who was assigned to the Ministry of Youth Development, bringing the total number of members of his cabinet to 16, as part of plans to consolidate on the restoration agenda of the administration.
Dickson said the major focus of his second term will be on the completion and consolidation of all the programmes and policies, especially in the area of education, where the government has made substantial investments.
He said efforts made in the sector were already yielding the desired results, as Bayelsa State now ranks about 5thposition in the performance in major national and international examinations in the country, stressing the need to make more investments in education.
The governor also stated that the secondary school students who were on the government’s scholarship programme across the country have been withdrawn to enjoy facilities at the demonstration school of the State Teachers Training Academy, with an enrolment of over 300 students.
His words: “The huge investments made in the education sector in the last 4 years, have started paying off. Our state that was occupying about 20th position in the ranking of performance in major national and international examinations is now number 5 in such examinations. Already, one of our first boarding schools has kicked off in the demonstration school of the State Teachers Training Academy, with the enrolment of over 300 students from top schools across the country, who have been brought back to enjoy the facilities there.”
Addressing Cocodia, Dickson urged him to strive hard, in mobilizing the youths and channeling their energies in the agricultural sector to achieve self-empowerment.
“I count on you to mobilize the youths for positive development so that they will not fall prey to failed politicians. The energies of the youths must be channeled to agriculture. I want you to spread the message of self-reliance. I want to see youths owning farms and government would provide land in all the local government areas for that purpose”.
Until his appointment, Deacon Markson Fefegha was the Principal Executive Secretary, Government House, while Chief Collins Cocodia retained his portfolio in the Ministry of Youth Development.