BAYELSA RANKS 4TH IN 2014/2015 SSSCE…AS DICKSON INVESTS N25BN IN 3 YEARS IN EDUCATION SECTOR

It has been revealed that, Bayelsa State was ranked 4^th in the federation in the last Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, (SSSCE). This has put paid to the efforts of the present administration at re-positioning the education sector.According to the report released by the West African Examination Council, (WAEC), the six leading states are, Anambra 65.92%, Abia 58.52%, Edo 57.82%, Bayelsa 52.83%, Rivers 52.73% and Enugu 51.91%.Prior to this period, Bayelsa State always lead the table from the rear as this was attributable to poor management and bad educational policies.Governor Seriake Dickson on assumption of office three and half years ago, expressed dismay over the standard of education in the state, especially the unimpressive position of Bayelsa among the comity of states.He said, “the development necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in the sector and the government has invested N25 billion, so far in the last 3 and half years to revamp the sector"Speaking during the 2015 Teachers Day Celebration held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa, Hon. Dickson enjoined the teachers to always strive to put in their best, stating that, his administration will continually address their welfare as well as improve the infrastructure in the sector.Governor Dickson, who applauded teachers for their contribution to the growth and development of society, assured that in the next 2 weeks, the Teachers Training Academy would be inaugurated to train and re-train teachers to excel in their profession.Describing the teaching profession as crucial in nation-building, the Governor warned school Principals in the state against extortion of students under the guise of collection of NECO and WAEC fees, stressing that, the government has been picking the bills for such fees to alleviate the plight of parents and wards.Responding, the state secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Okoroafor Okechukwu expressed gratitude to the state government for the prompt payment of salaries to workers, despite the austere times.Comrade Okechukwu, who was full of praises for the government’s approval for the payment of the arrears of N18,000 minimum wage, pledged the union’s total support for Governor Dickson’s second term re-election bid to enable the restoration government consolidate on its achievements.