Bayelsa House Committee on Education visits schools funded by EDTF

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The House Committee on Education in the Bayelsa House of Assembly conducted an oversight visit on Thursday. They visited Government Science and Technical College, Okaka, and International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Opolo. The Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) funded these institutions.

The Committee Chairman, led by Hon. Charles Daniel, explained the purpose of the visit. They wanted to assess the impact of the EDTF’s interventions. The goal was to enhance academic standards within the state’s educational institutions.

During the tour, the committee observed the EDTF’s involvement in various projects.

The Chairman said that the assignment of the team is to visit projects executed by the EDTF. For example, the technical school they went to was for them to have first-hand information. This visit allowed them to see what has been done on the ground.

According to him: “The school has changed a lot from what it used to be. From what we saw today, there is a whole lot of improvement in terms of the workshop. I am talking about the practical aspect.”

“But we are still emphasising the importance of the practical aspect. It should be prioritized over the theoretical aspect that currently exists in secondary schools.

“So, I believe that we have not arrived, but we are moving to where we are going. There is still so much that is desired in the technical school, but for the EDTF, they have tried.

“We still want them to put in their best; they have intervened, but from time to time, they still need to upgrade what they have done.

“Also, we came to see what they have done in the hospitality department. From what we saw, I think without the intervention, I don’t know what this place would have been.

“About 80 per cent of the equipment was purchased by EDTF. I want to say they have done their best. My advice to the rector and the institution is that they should make the best use of the equipment.

“Thank God for the power that the EDTF has provided a 150 KVA generator for them. That is also commendable, I believe that they are going to make the best of the equipment,” he said.

He urged the students to take their studies seriously, as they have seen a transformation in the hospitality industry.

On her part, the Executive Secretary of EDTF, Mrs Alice Atuwo, said the Institute of Hospitality has shown a strong commitment. They have effectively utilized the equipment they received from EDTF.

At the technical college, she said: “You saw the situation. Like the Chairman said, there is some level of indiscipline. They were aware of our visit, but they were not prepared to receive the visitors.”

“The Ministry of Education, the Science and Technical Education Board under the school, will have some interaction with the Management of that school.

“So that next time they will be ready to receive more visitors, particularly when it concerns the things they have provided for the school, people are doubting whether the things were provided.

“But I know they were provided, our monitoring and evaluation team have visited that school several times, but today they were not ready.”