By Magnus Emuji
The Delta State Government has tasked heads of primary schools in the state to consider themselves as members of the community of the schools they head.
The State Commissioner for Primary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu made the call in Asaba when the Association of Primary School Heads of Nigeria (AOPSHON) Delta State chapter, led by its chairman, Comr. Edward Mesere.
Dr. Ashibogwu charged them to ensure that government facilities are secured in their schools, stressing that they should have the interest of their host communities at heart and collaborate with the leadership of the communities for proper protection of such public infrastructure in their schools.
He lauded the leadership of the association for their unwavering commitment towards the realization of the MORE agenda of the Oborevwori led administration Dr. Ashibogwu said that the Ministry of Primary Education under his watch, would intensify its partnership with relevant stakeholders with a view to improve the standard of the education sector.
He assured the association that their challenges would be given priority attention.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in charge of the Primary and Secondary Education Ministries, Mr. Augustine Oghoro, described teachers as critical stakeholders in the basic education sub sector, adding that it was very important for government to get it right at the lower level in order to have multiplier effect in the entire education system.
Earlier in his address, the State Chairman of the Association of Primary School Heads of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Comrade Edward Mesere informed the Commissioner that they were in his office to congratulate him on his appointment, familiarise themselves with him and to seek more avenues to synergize with the Ministry of Primary Education in moving primary education to greater heights.
Mesere, who described the track record of Ashibogwu when he was the Commissioner for Higher Education as commendable, stated that Deltans now find it easier to access higher education following the creation of more Universities during Ashibogwu’s tenure as Commissioner for Higher Education.
While appreciating the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for the recent recruitment of primary school teachers across the state, Mesere noted that it was heartwarming to observe that the teachers were deployed to difficult terrains to address the issue of shortage of teachers.
