BY EBI NIEKETIEN
THE Delta State Government has said that the provision of functional, qualitative and affordable education remain cardinal to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration where every learner matters and cared for irrespective of the geopolitical locations.
The State Chairman, Steering Committee for the hosting of the 84th Joint Consultative Committee on Education (JCCE) in the state and Commissioner for Primary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu stated this during a press briefing on behalf of the Commissioners heading the four Education Ministries.
Flanked by the State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, the Commissioner for Technical Education, Hon. Smart Ufoh and their counterpart in charge of Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, the Primary Education Commissioner said that the administration was focused on fostering conducive teaching and learning environment through the prioritizing and provision of quality infrastructural facilities for teaching and learning across that the public institutions.
Ashibogwu stated that the state was promoting school reading culture among learners and inclusive educational policies to cater for the needs of the special learners in the state as well as learners’ mentorship programmes including schools’ security and safety among others.
He said that Governor Oborevwori’s passion for education necessitated his consideration and approval for the hosting of the 84th session of the Joint Consultative Committee on Education by the State Government.
The Commissioner reiterated Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s commitment to transforming the state through strategic investments in the education sector by creating enabling environment for learners and teachers to thrive in line with the M.O.R.E Agenda of the state government.
He explained that the Joint Consultative Committee on Education consisted of professional Officers of the Federal Ministry of Education, State Ministries of Education, FCT and their parastatals , Organized Private Sector, Non-Government Organizations as well as relevant stakeholders connected with Education.
While saying that JCCE meeting was rotationally hosted by respective state governments and the FCT, he noted that these Committees were the major organs of the National Council on Education which primarily diagnose educational issues through memoranda from stakeholders and make relevant recommendations to NCE for consideration, approval and adoption.
Ashibogwu stated that there were four Ministries of Education in Delta State charged with the responsibilities of formulation, supervision and implementation of educational policies and programmes at the different strata of education in the state.
He disclosed that there were 1142 public primary schools 489; public secondary schools, 9 Technical Colleges and Tertiary Institutions consisting of 4 Universities, 3 Polytechnic and 2 Colleges or Education in the state.
He stated that the purpose of the briefing was not actually for counting the gains of present administration since its inception but solely to enlighten the public on the JCCE events holding in Asaba with all the 36 States and the FCT officials in attendance.
Ashibogwu said that it was the plenary meeting that provides the refined and recommended memoranda to the NCE meeting for further considerations and final approvals, which would thereafter turn into policy decisions on education in the country.
He said that the National Council on Education originates and formulates educational policies to produce comprehensive, coherent and consistent system of education in tandem with the National Policy on Education (NPE) .
Recall that the Joint Consultative Committee on Education (JCCE) 84th plenary meeting would commence in Asaba from August 4 to August 7, 2025.