Nigeria: Why Activists Back Sylva's Model Schools

Nigeria: Why Activists Back Sylva's Model Schools

June 27, 2011 - Human rights and pro-democracy activists in Bayelsa State, President Goodluck Jonathan's home state, have risen in support of the current move by Governor Timipre Sylva, to establish16 model schools in the state.

A correspondent of AkanimoReports gathered exclusively from the human rights community in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Monday that the model schools project will further boost the standard of education in the state.

Founding Director of Ijaw Council for Human Rights (ICHR), Mr. Patterson Ogon, who made this known to the on-line news service shortly after a conclave of some human rights activists, said they are of the view that it was wrong to politicise the school project.

“I strongly hold the view that the Bayelsa children will receive the best of education with the model schools, and i have no hesitation whatever, to express my my support for it”, Ogon said.

AkanimoReports however, said they gathered that for the construction of the 16 model schools, the state will partner with the Federal Government’s Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme.

Bayelsa activists say under the Sylva administration, budgetary allocation to education has been raised substantially while major achievements recorded include full scholarships to 200 Bayelsans to India for ICT training and another 100 in Malaysia and over 100 in Russia for courses in medicine and engineering; and establishment of College of Education, Okpoama;
Others according to them, include full accreditation for the Niger Delta University (NDU) Medical School and College of Pharmacy, and other professional courses; payment of bursary to all students of the state origin in all tertiary institutions; procurement of 10 buses to convey primary school pupils within Yenagoa to and from school on a daily basis; and construction of one model secondary school in each of the three senatorial districts.

Governor Sylva's Spokesman, Mr. Doifie Ola, pointed out that in continuation of the governor's consolidated programme to achieve complete turnaround of educational infrastructure at the primary and secondary school levels, he approved the construction of 16 model schools across the state.

The model schools, he said, will be constructed by the Sylva administration under the state Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme.

“Each model school will have a 12-classroom block with hall, internet facilities, fully equipped staff office, store, toilet and multipurpose hall with tiled floor”, he said, pointing out that two schools will be located in each of the eight local government councils of the state.

ENDS

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