Igarra, Edo State – At a recent meeting with critical stakeholders from Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, the Hon. Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe, assuaged the Constituency people and said a campus of a tertiary institution will soon come to the LGA.
The session was jointly organized by Akoko-Edo Forum and the Edo State Ministry of Education in light of the exclusion of the Constituency from those to benefit from the recently announced multi-campus program by the Governor.
When pressed for timeframe on when this can happen, Dr. Oviawe pleaded with the audience for patience, as the Governor is the only one who can make such a commitment given the weight of such a pronouncement.
She said, ” I understand the pain and sense of neglect you feel but be rest assured, Mr. Governor has Akoko-Edo as one of the top LGAs in his development agenda.
Earlier, in his welcome address, a member of Akoko-Edo Forum leadership, Dr. Richard Bagudu, thanked the commissioner for coming to address the immediate concerns of Akoko-Edo people within the short time of the request. He used the opportunity to address the challenges facing the oldest government division since 1954, which has remained untouched since creation.
This sad commentary is reflected by the fact that it is the only federal Constituency without a tertiary institution in the State. Coupled with this is the near-total collapse of both primary and secondary schools in the LG.
Dr. Oviawe, who demonstrated commendable knowledge of the challenges facing the educational system in Edo State, explained that although Akoko-Edo has about 70 primary schools, one of the highest numbers in the state, and over 26 secondary schools, she observed that “the education sector has faced a big challenge in the State over the years considering that the last major teachers’ recruitment took place in 2008.
A situation the present administration is reversing”. She announced that there’s massive recruitment of teachers going on, with an emphasis on recruitment of teachers that live or come from those areas where the schools are. she said, “more STEM Teachers are needed; hence, the recruitment portal has been reopened for applicants in those fields.”
According to the commissioner, the State is vigorously pursuing the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program, with the LGA providing free education for the first six years and the recently introduced one-year pre-school. Also, the State is tapping into the new federal secondary school policy to help with funding secondary education. However, the State cannot shy away from the need to supplement government expenditures on education with input from companies and minimum fees to change the trajectory of education infrastructure and personnel deficits in the sector.
Finally, the commissioner promised to immediately investigate the issue bedeviling the National Teachers Institute in Igarra, which is on the verge of closure due to lack of funding and low level of awareness of the existence of such facility in the LGA.
For: Akoko Edo Forum
Mary Opii & Edith Aiyede
