Rivers counters criticisms on free public education

The Rivers State Government is boasting of its top five position in
West African Examination Council, WAEC ranking for 36 states including
Abuja in the last five years.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim
said this in Port Harcourt at a joint media briefing with his
Education Ministry counterpart, Professor KANIYE EBEKU.

NSIRIM said the state had shown consistency in educational growth
between 2016 to 2019.

CUE:            NSIRIM-RS EDUC  18 FEB 20

In a contribution, Professor Ebeku said, Governor Nyesom Wike had
demonstrated his love for education by sponsoring free JAMB 2019/2020
registration for indigenous Rivers State candidates.

Ebeku also noted that the Governor covered registration fees of
students of Rivers origin in public schools for the West African
School Certificate Examination for this year 2020.

CUE:         EBEKU- RS EDUC 18 FEB 20

COV/CN/GU

DAK/SCH

Meanwhile, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency, Doctor Dakuku Peterside has expressed worry over
the poor condition of public schools in the local government areas.

Peterside spoke on the sidelines of an event in Port Harcourt at the
weekend, blasting Governor Wike’s administration for supposedly
killing education gradually.

The NIMASA DG said, apart from the poor state of facilities, many
public schools were lacking teachers in so many subjects, hence the
poor results in junior and secondary examinations.

The APC 2015 Governorship Candidate also condemned what he described
as the arbitrary increase in school fees at the Rivers State
University, pointing out that only a government that lacked focus
would effect such an increase without scholarship and bursary awards.

PR/AO/GU