Education: “Delta Set To Improve Infrastructure, Teachers’ Welfare” –Prof. Muoboghare
Delta state Commissioner for Education (Basic/Secondary), Prof. Patrick Muoboghare (2nd left) on the hot seat @ the ongoing Mid-Term briefing in Asaba. On his left is Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah Esq. & Norbert Chiazor (Delta NUJ Chairman) on the far left, while the Permanent Secretary (Education) is on Muoboghare's right.
Delta state Commissioner for Education (Basic/Secondary), Prof. Patrick Muoboghare (2nd left) on the hot seat @ the ongoing Mid-Term briefing in Asaba. On his left is Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah Esq. & Norbert Chiazor (Delta NUJ Chairman) on the far left, while the Permanent Secretary (Education) is on Muoboghare’s right.

Delta State has concluded arrangements to enhance the remuneration and welfare of Teachers, particularly in the riverine areas of the State, even as the state government has pledged to support the effective take-off of the schools handed over to Missions in the state.

This disclosure was made by the Delta state Commissioner for Education (Basic/Secondary), Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, while briefing journalists during the on-going Mid-Term ministerial press briefing held in Government House, Asaba on Tuesday, August 20, 2013.

According to the Commissioner, the state government implemented the 27.5% Teachers’ Salary Scale (TSS) as well as the 15% basic allowance to special needs teachers, even as he added that teachers posted to the riverine areas of the state, particularly, English, Mathematics and Games Teachers will receive special percentage increment to their salaries and automatic accommodation in the communities where they have been posted.

The Commissioner also noted that the state Government has augmented the salaries of primary school teachers, ensured regular payment of the UBEC counterpart fund, resuscitated sporting activities in schools and ensured Zero-tolerance to all forms of malpractice, including examination malpractice and illegal collection of fees in public schools in the State.

Prof. Muoboghare noted that the state government has so far expended the sum of N3,687,155,963.09 (three billion, six hundred and eighty seven million, one hundred and fifty five thousand, nine hundred and sixty three naira, nine kobo) on examinations in the period under review and this has led to remarkable improvement by students in external examinations conducted by WAEC in the past three years.

According to him “This magnanimous step taken by the State Government has resulted in remarkable improvement by students in external examinations conducted by WAEC in the past three years. There has been steady improvement with candidates having five credits and above, including Mathematics and English Language as evident in the progressive performance of students. In 2010 we had 36.34% and in 2011, it was 38.72% while in 2012 the performance was 49.1%. We are awaiting the analysis of 2013 result.”

Speaking on the return of schools to Missionaries, Prof. Muoboghare affirmed that 41 secondary schools have been handed over to their original owners in the state with the payment of an initial sum of N5m each to them as take-off grant, adding that the state government was poised to assist in the full take-off schools and equally support parents financially for successful students if and when the need arises.

Speaking further on the achievements of his Ministry, Prof. Muoboghare listed the closure of 662 illegal/ramshackle schools, enthronement of seniority in the appointment of Principals, merger of multiple secondary schools located in one compound, monitoring of examinations in collaboration with Delta State University, Abraka, steady improvement in external examination results and improved performance by teachers, as some of the laudable milestones of the Ministry in the period under review.

Other achievements, according to the Delta Education Commissioner include, improved conditions of service for teachers such that teachers earn more than their counterparts in the Civil Service, augmentation of primary school teachers salaries
Massive infrastructural development, establishment of new secondary schools and technical colleges, increase in school enrollment, regular payment of teachers salaries, absolute free education in primary and secondary school levels and “De-stagnation” in the primary schools amongst others.

Prof. Muoboghare equally affirmed that Delta state has garnered Laurels in external academic and sports competitions which include, NNPC/Shell Petroleum Development Company football and Basketball national competitions in 2012; 2013 National Sports Competition in Port-Harcourt where the state emerged 2nd position with 81 Gold, 85 Silver and 65 Bronze medals; winner of Channels Kids Football Competition by Ogedegbe Primary School, Warri held in Lagos in May 2013.

Other sports laurels include the 2013 Governor’s Cup Competition won by Comprehensive Secondary School, Ogwashi-Uku which carted home a brand new 30-seater coaster bus, a cash prize of N2m and a play tour to Europe; Alegbo Secondary School, Effurun which clinched the 2nd position with a brand new coaster bus and cash of N1m, and Edjekota Secondary School which came 3rd with a brand new coaster bus and a cash prize of N500,000.00.

In the area of academic laurels, Prof. Muoboghare listed the Workshop for the African Regional Centre for space Science and Technology (South South zone) where Delta state took 1st position with Space Technology Kit and cash prize of N167,960.00 and numerous victories in other National Science and Mathematics Competitions in the period under review.

The Delta Education Commissioner further noted that “Since 2008/2009 academic session, the State Government has been responsible for the payment of all levies and examination fees for all pupils/students in public primary and post-primary schools in the State”, adding that “Within the period under review, the Ministry was allocated the sum of N59,574,201,893.20 for capital projects.”

The Commissioner also said that the Ministry has achieved giant strides in the areas of special education, public private partnership initiative, adult and non-formal education and the provision of accommodation facilities, furniture, Instructional Materials/ equipment and other infrastructural facilities for schools in the state.

Highlighting the challenges,Prof. Muoboghare said “There are challenges in the areas of access by children in the riverine communities and other areas with difficult terrains, existence of miracle centres for examinations and the role of parents, uncooperative attitude of some teachers deployed to the riverine/rural areas and lack of commitment of some parents to the education of their children security in our schools”, even as he assured that the Ministry was determined to move Basic and Secondary Education in the State to the next level.

20130821-104135.jpg

News Reporter
Blank NEWS Online founding Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Albert Eruorhe Ograka, is a Graduate of Mass Communication. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Journalism from the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ).

Your Comment