Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas
By DOMINIC AKPENSUEN, Jalingo –
Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas has held a progressive meeting with principals and head teachers of public secondary schools in the state over the weekend to proffer solutions for the smooth take off of the free and compulsory education declared by his administration.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the 336 principals of secondary schools and 2,271 head masters of primary schools across Taraba State had a crucial discuss with the governor to map up modalities for the success of the policy.
The two-day meeting which was held on separate occasions took place on the 3rd and 4th August, 2023, at the Gym Hall, Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo in Taraba State.
Governor Kefas appealed to the principals and HM to support the free educational policy, adding that Taraba State has huge potentials and human capital, but identified as the must backwards in education among all the states in Nigeria.
He said the level of out-of-school children and illiteracy within the state is very alarming dye to the fact that parents can not afford to pay their children school fees.
Governor Kefas, however, said his administration which is focused on building a new Taraba, will provide a bright future to the youths.
He therefore urged the principals and head masters to give the policy a maximum support.
In her welcome speech, the Commissioner for Education Taraba State, Dr. Augustina Goodwin said Governor Kefas led administration in Taraba State is the era of hope for the children.
She disclosed that the free education policy is not a business making venture but to ensure that the children received quality free education.
The Commissioner maintained that the free education policy under her watch will leave no stone unturned, but provide quality of teaching and learning, protect digital literacy among students and teachers, strengthen vocational and technical education programs, engage parents in education activities and as well as establish a monitoring and evaluation team for proper implementation.
In the same vein, the Chairperson, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mrs. Elsie Yaruta appealed to the governor to provide vehicles in schools, training of teachers for efficiency and ensuring that casual teachers engage on PTA basis are made permanent.
Earlier, the Principal Government Technical Training School, Beli, Mr. Abwage Moseh, applauded the governor for taking the bull by its horns.
Mr. Abwage described the free education policy as a round page in the round hole as it will help in ending the bitter experiences between parents and teachers on school fees challenges.
He however appealed to his colleagues to have a rethink and comprehensively understand the policy.
