BY UJU AZUKAEGO

EDUCATION is the only way forward in societal development. It is simply the best legacy any reasonable person or leader can bequeath to the children or people. It is also believed that no sustainable or meaningful development can occur in a society that is doomed to perpetual backwardness, general human and material decay.

Education, however, is the key to liberate man out of ignorance. A good society is known by wisdom, understanding and knowledge that illuminates the home with rare and beautiful treasure. Since education is indispensable to vast socio-economic development of the society, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, after taking the mantle of leadership of the Delta State in 2007, spared no effort at supporting education by all means in his capacity by empowering it right from the Primary and Secondary levels through to the higher institutions as far as Delta State is concerned. He first made known three-point-agenda which include Infrastructural Development, Peace and Security and Human Capital Development. When we talk about developing humans, it means educating the people, empowering them to be great assets not only to themselves, but also to the society at large. In order to achieve this, he began to make education accessible to all Deltans with his free education policy at the basic and secondary levels.

Not too long after that, the State Government took over the payment of enrolment West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations for the students in the state. As soon as Dr. Uduaghan implemented the free education policy, then came the teeming number of students who availed themselves the opportunity to actualize their academic goals, and this has recorded a huge success.

According to the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, at a ministerial press briefing, with the introduction of free education at the basic and secondary levels, the number of public primary schools increased from 1146 in 2009 to 1174 in 2011 with a corresponding pupil enrolment of 361, 225 and a teaching staff strength of 16, 802, while public secondary schools increased from 413 in 2007 to 453 in 2012. More importantly is the fact that 40 new secondary schools were opened across the state during the period under review to meet the yearnings of the citizenry, especially in the rural and riverine communities. He noted: “similarly, the corresponding enrolment of primary school pupils and secondary school students increased from 373, 121 in 2007 to 587, 317 in 2011. This increase in enrolment was due to the tuition-free education and free examination enrolment fee policies of the state government”.

The Commissioner noted that, in recognition of the fact that quality education depends, to a large extent, on the quality of teaching, government continued to strengthen the teaching force in both primary and secondary schools. He added that today, there are 16, 802 teachers in the primary schools and 12, 883 at the secondary school level who, on yearly basis, are sponsored to participate in workshops and seminars to receive quality training and retraining programmes to widen their horizon of knowledge.

It is obvious that free education as well as the training and retraining of teachers was not enough to facilitate the desired production of world-class pupils and students, so, it became imperative for the governor to mobilize his competent team in education sector and subsector to get the schools that were in decay and dilapidated condition restructured as before then, there were many of them competing for attention. The poor condition of public schools in the state was discouraging and demoralizing as most parents had no option than to relocate their children to private schools. Governor Uduaghan, noticing the gradual drift out of public schools in the state, had to intervene. Further to embark on total refurbishment and renovation of all Delta Primary and Secondary schools from the major cities down to the rural areas to make sure that modern facilities were put in place for school children to use in the course of their study.

It, however, came to the knowledge of the state government that the renovation and building of infrastructures in schools was fractional and that was not capable of effecting comprehensive infrastructure, learning and teaching tools in our schools simultaneously. Thus, a total transformational approach became very necessary and that gave way to Delta State Government under Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, adopting and implementing the “Whole School Concept”. This simply means transformation process in the building and renovation of structures in our educational system, provision of infrastructure teaching and learning tools in the basic education sector.

This ‘Whole School Concept’ is taking place in the three senatorial districts across the state. The components of this concept under operation in the state include; construction of modern classroom building with state of the art facilities, provision of health facilities, good sanitation and information and communication technologies (ICTs) in all basic schools in the state. This means all public primary and secondary schools in the state are being provided with health clinic, computers, electricity, potable water and a very conducive learning environment with qualified personnel operating these equipment.

Other facilities being provided are food canteen, modern sports equipment, toilet facilities and adequate security for pupils, teachers and other personnel working in the schools. In line of the implementation of the ‘whole school concept’ in 2012, Delta model primary schools were built and commissioned in Asaba and Warri and were equipped with all facilities included in the concept.

Some of the Primary and secondary schools in the state that have received this touch of “Whole School Concept” include Uzoigwe Primary school, Abu-ato Primary School, Model Primary School, Osadenis High school, Asagba Mixed secondary school, Zappa Primary and Secondary School and other secondary schools in Asaba too numerous to mention.

According to Governor Uduaghan at the occasion of the commissioning Model Primary School and Uzoigwe primary school, all in Asaba, the target is to effect the whole school concept completely in all primary and basic schools in the state by the end of 2014. This target date is to ensure Delta state meets the national deadline in providing Basic Education for All in 2015 Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).

It is to this effect that eradication of examination malpractice in the school system became urgent as the state government has engaged in a strong-willed fight against the so-called miracle centres, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary education has made sure that secondary schools that perpetrate such act were shut down. Also at the higher level of education, it is the same case as students who were involved in examination malpractice as well as other social vices receive it hot from various school managements and that has discouraged the practice of such in the higher institutions in the State.

Dr. Uduaghan has also made a giant stride in the area of return of schools to mission in March 2011, he handed over 40 Delta schools to their rightful owners (missions). While the Schools were in the hands of missionaries, they were properly managed with the strict rules and regulations of the missionaries, before the intervention of government in 1970 with the motive of maintaining the schools which the mission could not achieve excellently as a result of lack of finance. That move of helping the mission to renovate the mission schools building eventually led to the the effective take-over of those schools by the government.

Many Nigerians, no doubt, admitted that the change which was effected in 1970 signalled the disappearance of morality and character-building from the school system. As a result came the clamour of many Nigerians for schools to be handed over to their original owners which has yielded a result as Delta State Government and other state government have returned the schools to their owners.

The return of 40 schools to the missions took effect in September 2012 after it has been announced in March 2011. Out of the 40 schools returned to the missions, 27 went back to the Roman Catholic mission; eight to the Anglican mission; four to the Baptist mission and one to the African Church group.

Shortly after one of the leading schools in Asaba, St. Patrick’s College, (SPC) Asaba, was returned to the Roman Catholic Mission, their original owner, Deltans thought it would be the music of allowing the mission shoulder the full responsibility of infrastructure but it was not so as Dr. Uduaghan, to the bewilderment of all, went on to build a magnificent structure worth millions of naira in the school. The gigantic new SPC is equipped with modern international standards of educational facilities that will help produce world-class students.

The state government never stopped at equipping the mission school but is deeply involved in paying its teachers in the school, pending when they will all be transferred to join other public schools.

Delta State Government, being an education-friendly state has given both public and private schools, including primary, secondary and higher institutions, the opportunity to thrive in that it is always there for collaboration. Just recently, Dr. Uduaghan donated N100 million to Novena University can gave instant directive to the Ministry of Higher Education as well as the State scholarship Board to quickly include the students from Private higher institutions to be accessing the Students Special Assistance Scheme (SSAS) popularly refer red to as bursary awards for all Deltans in higher institutions in Nigeria. Others include scholarship to graduates with first class degree honours to study to PhD level anywhere in the world; scholarship to students in the Aviation school; scholarship to students studying in tertiary institutions within the Country (local scholarship), Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme, Financial Assistance to Students in Nigeria Law School and scholarship for the children of deceased civil servants, and to the physically-challenged Deltans both undergraduate and post graduate students.

Delta State Scholarship Board has recorded a huge success in this special assistance scheme as millions of Deltans have enjoyed and continue to enjoy the programme. It has also helped to develop the manpower of the state. Our seven state owned institutions are thriving, they have undeniably produced graduates that are contributing their quota in the development of the County and beyond. At present, four new institutions are already under construction. This move is to meet the increasing quest of Deltans to acquire quality higher education.

The State University, Delta State University (DELSU) Abraka with its two campuses, Anwai and Oleh, is trailing the blaze, the polytechnics, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro and Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara, Delta State College of Education, Warri and Delta State College of Education, Agbor as well as the College of Physical Education, Mossogar have been provided with facilities that made it easy for accreditation of their courses by their regulating bodies. They are still being updated to suit the modern-day education with seasoned teachers who display high level of professionalism in their duty. It has been attested that Uduaghan’s dogged crusade for change in all sectors including the education sector of the state has been the strong societal tool for the present economic and societal engineering.

The developmental strides of Dr. Uduaghan have proved wrong doubtful Deltans and Nigerians at large who were impatient and critical of his leadership at the inception of his government.

comr.odio-odio:

BY UJU AZUKAEGO

EDUCATION is the only way forward in societal development. It is simply the best legacy any reasonable person or leader can bequeath to the children or people. It is also believed that no sustainable or meaningful development can occur in a society that is doomed to perpetual backwardness, general human and material decay.

Education, however, is the key to liberate man out of ignorance. A good society is known by wisdom, understanding and knowledge that illuminates the home with rare and beautiful treasure. Since education is indispensable to vast socio-economic development of the society, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, after taking the mantle of leadership of the Delta State in 2007, spared no effort at supporting education by all means in his capacity by empowering it right from the Primary and Secondary levels through to the higher institutions as far as Delta State is concerned. He first made known three-point-agenda which include Infrastructural Development, Peace and Security and Human Capital Development. When we talk about developing humans, it means educating the people, empowering them to be great assets not only to themselves, but also to the society at large. In order to achieve this, he began to make education accessible to all Deltans with his free education policy at the basic and secondary levels.

Not too long after that, the State Government took over the payment of enrolment West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations for the students in the state. As soon as Dr. Uduaghan implemented the free education policy, then came the teeming number of students who availed themselves the opportunity to actualize their academic goals, and this has recorded a huge success.

According to the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, at a ministerial press briefing, with the introduction of free education at the basic and secondary levels, the number of public primary schools increased from 1146 in 2009 to 1174 in 2011 with a corresponding pupil enrolment of 361, 225 and a teaching staff strength of 16, 802, while public secondary schools increased from 413 in 2007 to 453 in 2012. More importantly is the fact that 40 new secondary schools were opened across the state during the period under review to meet the yearnings of the citizenry, especially in the rural and riverine communities. He noted: “similarly, the corresponding enrolment of primary school pupils and secondary school students increased from 373, 121 in 2007 to 587, 317 in 2011. This increase in enrolment was due to the tuition-free education and free examination enrolment fee policies of the state government”.

The Commissioner noted that, in recognition of the fact that quality education depends, to a large extent, on the quality of teaching, government continued to strengthen the teaching force in both primary and secondary schools. He added that today, there are 16, 802 teachers in the primary schools and 12, 883 at the secondary school level who, on yearly basis, are sponsored to participate in workshops and seminars to receive quality training and retraining programmes to widen their horizon of knowledge.

It is obvious that free education as well as the training and retraining of teachers was not enough to facilitate the desired production of world-class pupils and students, so, it became imperative for the governor to mobilize his competent team in education sector and subsector to get the schools that were in decay and dilapidated condition restructured as before then, there were many of them competing for attention. The poor condition of public schools in the state was discouraging and demoralizing as most parents had no option than to relocate their children to private schools. Governor Uduaghan, noticing the gradual drift out of public schools in the state, had to intervene. Further to embark on total refurbishment and renovation of all Delta Primary and Secondary schools from the major cities down to the rural areas to make sure that modern facilities were put in place for school children to use in the course of their study.

It, however, came to the knowledge of the state government that the renovation and building of infrastructures in schools was fractional and that was not capable of effecting comprehensive infrastructure, learning and teaching tools in our schools simultaneously. Thus, a total transformational approach became very necessary and that gave way to Delta State Government under Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, adopting and implementing the “Whole School Concept”. This simply means transformation process in the building and renovation of structures in our educational system, provision of infrastructure teaching and learning tools in the basic education sector.

This ‘Whole School Concept’ is taking place in the three senatorial districts across the state. The components of this concept under operation in the state include; construction of modern classroom building with state of the art facilities, provision of health facilities, good sanitation and information and communication technologies (ICTs) in all basic schools in the state. This means all public primary and secondary schools in the state are being provided with health clinic, computers, electricity, potable water and a very conducive learning environment with qualified personnel operating these equipment.

Other facilities being provided are food canteen, modern sports equipment, toilet facilities and adequate security for pupils, teachers and other personnel working in the schools. In line of the implementation of the ‘whole school concept’ in 2012, Delta model primary schools were built and commissioned in Asaba and Warri and were equipped with all facilities included in the concept.

Some of the Primary and secondary schools in the state that have received this touch of “Whole School Concept” include Uzoigwe Primary school, Abu-ato Primary School, Model Primary School, Osadenis High school, Asagba Mixed secondary school, Zappa Primary and Secondary School and other secondary schools in Asaba too numerous to mention.

According to Governor Uduaghan at the occasion of the commissioning Model Primary School and Uzoigwe primary school, all in Asaba, the target is to effect the whole school concept completely in all primary and basic schools in the state by the end of 2014. This target date is to ensure Delta state meets the national deadline in providing Basic Education for All in 2015 Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).

It is to this effect that eradication of examination malpractice in the school system became urgent as the state government has engaged in a strong-willed fight against the so-called miracle centres, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary education has made sure that secondary schools that perpetrate such act were shut down. Also at the higher level of education, it is the same case as students who were involved in examination malpractice as well as other social vices receive it hot from various school managements and that has discouraged the practice of such in the higher institutions in the State.

Dr. Uduaghan has also made a giant stride in the area of return of schools to mission in March 2011, he handed over 40 Delta schools to their rightful owners (missions). While the Schools were in the hands of missionaries, they were properly managed with the strict rules and regulations of the missionaries, before the intervention of government in 1970 with the motive of maintaining the schools which the mission could not achieve excellently as a result of lack of finance. That move of helping the mission to renovate the mission schools building eventually led to the the effective take-over of those schools by the government.

Many Nigerians, no doubt, admitted that the change which was effected in 1970 signalled the disappearance of morality and character-building from the school system. As a result came the clamour of many Nigerians for schools to be handed over to their original owners which has yielded a result as Delta State Government and other state government have returned the schools to their owners.

The return of 40 schools to the missions took effect in September 2012 after it has been announced in March 2011. Out of the 40 schools returned to the missions, 27 went back to the Roman Catholic mission; eight to the Anglican mission; four to the Baptist mission and one to the African Church group.

Shortly after one of the leading schools in Asaba, St. Patrick’s College, (SPC) Asaba, was returned to the Roman Catholic Mission, their original owner, Deltans thought it would be the music of allowing the mission shoulder the full responsibility of infrastructure but it was not so as Dr. Uduaghan, to the bewilderment of all, went on to build a magnificent structure worth millions of naira in the school. The gigantic new SPC is equipped with modern international standards of educational facilities that will help produce world-class students.

The state government never stopped at equipping the mission school but is deeply involved in paying its teachers in the school, pending when they will all be transferred to join other public schools.

Delta State Government, being an education-friendly state has given both public and private schools, including primary, secondary and higher institutions, the opportunity to thrive in that it is always there for collaboration. Just recently, Dr. Uduaghan donated N100 million to Novena University can gave instant directive to the Ministry of Higher Education as well as the State scholarship Board to quickly include the students from Private higher institutions to be accessing the Students Special Assistance Scheme (SSAS) popularly refer red to as bursary awards for all Deltans in higher institutions in Nigeria. Others include scholarship to graduates with first class degree honours to study to PhD level anywhere in the world; scholarship to students in the Aviation school; scholarship to students studying in tertiary institutions within the Country (local scholarship), Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme, Financial Assistance to Students in Nigeria Law School and scholarship for the children of deceased civil servants, and to the physically-challenged Deltans both undergraduate and post graduate students.

Delta State Scholarship Board has recorded a huge success in this special assistance scheme as millions of Deltans have enjoyed and continue to enjoy the programme. It has also helped to develop the manpower of the state. Our seven state owned institutions are thriving, they have undeniably produced graduates that are contributing their quota in the development of the County and beyond. At present, four new institutions are already under construction. This move is to meet the increasing quest of Deltans to acquire quality higher education.

The State University, Delta State University (DELSU) Abraka with its two campuses, Anwai and Oleh, is trailing the blaze, the polytechnics, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro and Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara, Delta State College of Education, Warri and Delta State College of Education, Agbor as well as the College of Physical Education, Mossogar have been provided with facilities that made it easy for accreditation of their courses by their regulating bodies. They are still being updated to suit the modern-day education with seasoned teachers who display high level of professionalism in their duty. It has been attested that Uduaghan’s dogged crusade for change in all sectors including the education sector of the state has been the strong societal tool for the present economic and societal engineering.

The developmental strides of Dr. Uduaghan have proved wrong doubtful Deltans and Nigerians at large who were impatient and critical of his leadership at the inception of his government.

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