The Pointer 20/05/2018

THE teaching of Historical Studies in schools will commence in the 2018/2019 academic year, following the re-introduction of History curriculum in schools across board.

The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, gave the hint when he appeared at the ongoing ministerial press briefing to present the activities and achievements of his ministry at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information, Asaba.

According to Ebie, the curriculum was only recently unveiled in Abuja by the Minister of Education, saying that his ministry was working round the clock to effect implementation by dealing with the challenges envisaged in the areas of personnel and books.

He said that the state government had reintroduced the teaching and learning of local languages in schools where they are spoken, saying that it had necessitated the development of curricula in some of the state’s indigenous languages.

The commissioner however noted that due to the dearth of teachers in the language areas, some schools had been designated as pilot schools for the teaching and learning of Urhobo, Isoko and Ika languages, adding that the development and production of Enuani and Itsekiri languages were at different stages with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Centre (NERDC).

On sports, the commissioner announced that the maiden edition of the Headmasters’ Cup for primary school pupils in the state would kick off on April 30, 2018, while the finals would hold on May 16, 2018.

He said that arrangements were at advanced stages for the reintroduction of Annual School Sports Festival in the state for the identification and nurturing of talents in different sports.

The commissioner equally revealed that Hockey had been repositioned as a sport in the state with the donation of 2,500 Hockey Sticks to selected schools by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah. In the area of Adult and Non-Formal Education, the Basic and Secondary Education Commissioner said that the ministry facilitated the writing of Primary Six/Cognitive/Placement Examination by adult learners.

In what he referred to as vocationalisation, the commissioner said that the state government had introduced vocational studies into the adult education programme to facilitate self employment and also improved relationship with the National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), the World Bank and UNESCO.

Useless governor

Okowa is working