Category: Education

By:Ukongikwen Adie,CRS-MOI Officer reporting from Min. of Quality Education.

 In a bid to fulfill their pledge to give the Governor Ben Ayade led administration and the Ministry of Quality Education under the able leadership of. Dr. Godwin Amanke their full support, the Association of Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools,(ANCOPSS) Ogoja zone has honoured the  Commissioner  for Quality Education and the Chairman Secondary Education Board, Mr. Ebe Idagu  in Ogoja.

In a re.ark at the event, the Chairman, ANCOPSS Ogoja zone, Mr. Ejue Joseph felicitated Dr. Amanke and Mr. Idagu on their appointments,adding that their appointments were timely as the education sector has suffered a tremendous setback, thereby placing the State as educationally disadvantaged.

According to Mr. Ejue, “with your wealth of experience in education and as a seasoned administrator, most of the ills bedeviling the education sector will be stream lined as a way of restoring the standard of education in the State’’,emphasizing futher that he knows that Dr. Amanke’s dream as Chairman of Commissioners for education in Nigeria, is that Cross River State becomes number one in terms of quality education in the federation.

The ANCOPSS Chairman assured   the Commissioner that as partners in the field, ANCOPSS Ogoja will work with him and the Board Chairman to ensure that he achieves positive and remarkable strides as Commissioner. 

He concluded by highlighting some of the challenges faced by the Principals in the course of discharging their duties

The Board Chairman , Mr. Ebe Idagu acknowleged the ANCOPSS Ogoja zone for their show of love and the warm reception accorded him and the Commissioner, assuring them that he will do all that is in his mandate to enure that what is due to them gets to them.

The Quality Education Commissioner, Dr. Amanke in his resoonse at the occasion expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the ANCOPSS Ogoja zone for the honour done him ,noting that this is the first reception he and the Board Chairman is attending and assured them that all their challenges and  issues raised will be comminucated to  the Govenor to enable them carry out their duties effectively.

Hightlights of the occasion were  welcome song, cultural display by students and the conferment of automatic award on the Principal of Igbeku Comprehensive Secondary School, Imaje,Yala Local Government Area whose students performed exceptionally well during the occasion as well as the Principal and students of Girls’ Secondary School, Obudu for their outstanding performance in a national competition last year.

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By: Uchino Amatey, CRS-MOI Officer reporting from SUBEB

The Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (CR-SUBEB), has commenced a 3 weeks intensive monitoring exercise to selected Primary Schools across the State.

The exercise which is going  on simultaneously across the  three Senatorial Districts of the State by teams made up of SUBEB Quality Assurance Officers, Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Quality Assurance Staff, amongst others, is to ensure effective teaching and learning and to check absenteeism as well as loitering by pupils.

The Director of Quality Assurance, SUBEB, Mr Barth Onyi said a total of 180 Primary Schools,  selected from two Local Government Areas (LGAs), from each of the three Senatorial Zones will be visited.

Speaking during the monitoring exercise at Calabar Oil Palm Estate (COPE) Primary School, Pamol, Odukpani Local Government Area, Mr Onyi charged teachers to ensure that pupils from primary 4 to 6 read and write fluently in order to compete with their peers across the Country.

He further frowned at the poor attitude of teachers towards work and advised against absenteeism.

Explaining the role Evaluators play in the monitoring exercise, SUBEB’s Quality Assurance Evaluator, Mrs Juliana Agwupuye said: “We come to Schools early, before the Assembly starts to see how the learners are coming in. If they are coming on their own, by foot or are being dropped off by a parent figure.  We watch out to see late Teachers. When the classes begin, we sit through every lesson being taught that day to watch Teachers’ engagement with Learners. After each lesson, we ask Learners questions to see if they have an understanding of the subjects being taught.”

“We check the lesson note of the Teacher to see if it is in line with the Curriculum, we check Pupil’s attendance and Lesson Notes to see if they have been marked by the Head Teachers. We check to see if the classrooms are properly decorated with instructional materials, such as charts. We also check to see if the Teachers are using instructional materials and encourage them to improvise where necessary. At the close of School, we meet with the Teachers and point out areas they need to work on, mistakes they made and correct them,” she explained.

Mrs Agwupuye said the exercise is important to improve the quality of teaching and learning in Schools stressing that regular and continuous monitoring will keep the Teachers alert and alive to their responsibilities.

She further stated non-usage of instructional materials by Teachers during lesson delivery as one of the major observations recorded in the field.

Commending SUBEB for the exercise, Evaluator, Odukpani Local Government Education Authority (LGEA),Mrs Eno Mbi said the experience has broaden her knowledge on monitoring.

In her words “We have been doing evaluations in the Local Government, but this is a different experience entirely, because I can see that the evaluation you do in SUBEB is very in-depth. You go into every aspect of teaching and learning. So it has really broaden my knowledge and understanding on how to evaluate, because it is very detailed. Writing my reports have taken me more time than it used to be in the past.”

Mrs Mbi stated that the exercise will improve the basic education sector and arm Evaluators with the necessary skills to carry out their jobs effectively.

According to her “I see that SUBEB is out to make improvement in the system, it is not just about going out to fulfill all righteousness. We want to make signifixant impact, so we go into details to ensure Teachers are doing what they have to do and doing it the way it should be done. It is also helping us Evaluators to sit up, to know the right things to do, the approach to use in teaching and even the Note of Lesson. Because, if the Note of Lesson is not well written or presented, then we cannot achieve our aim, “she pointed out.

The Local Government Areas being visited include; Odukpani and Akpabuyo in Sothern Senatorial Zone,Yakurr and Ikom in the Central Zone, while the Nothern Senatorial Zone comprise of Ogoja and Obanliku,respectively.
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By:Ikongikwen Adie,CRS-MOI Officer reporting from Min. of Quality Education

The Cross River State Hon. Commissioner for Qzuality Education,Dr. G. Amanke has called on the management of College of Health Technology Calabar to monitor the implementation of the vision and mission of the institution to the latter.
Dr. Amanke stated this while addressing the management, staff, students and parents on the occasion of their 13th Matriculation Ceremony held in the college.
Addressing the matriculating students, Dr. Amanke, congratuled them on working hard to gain admission in the prestigious institution and admonished them to remain focused and take advantage of the opportunity accorded them to achieve their life goals. He charged the parents to ensure that their financial obligations to the institution are met  as and when due so that their wards can concentrate on their studies.
Dr. Amanke,who was visibly impressed by the efforts of the college management in infrastructural development and academic achievements, commended the Provost Dr. Mrs Janet Adah for taking the college to higher heights, Particularly for being able to mobilize their students in the three Higher National Diploma (HND) programs for NYSC. According to him, ” This is a very great feat and is second to none in any College of Health Technology”
On this note, the commissioner assured them that in the shortest possible time, with the support of His Excellency Senator Prof. Ben Ayade and the ministry of Quality Education,the college will graduate into a monotechnic to enable them access grants and in due season become a university.
Dr. Amanke conveyed the regrets  of His Excellency Senator Prof Ben Ayade for his inability to be present at the occasion. He assured the Provost, Management and staff that all the issues raised by the Provost in her address will be forwarded to the governor for action subject to the availability of funds. The issues include lack official cars for principal officers, lack of a  bus for the college, none accreditation of certain programmes and some salary related issues. The
Highlight
 of the occasion was oath taking by the matriculating students.

Commissioner for Quality Education Dr. Amanke

By:Adie Ukongikwen,CRS-MOI Officer reporting from Min. of Education

In line with his passion for education, the Commissioner for Quality Education Cross River State, Dr.Godwin Amanke  has embarked on an inspection of two major projects under the able leadership of the great visionary, Governor Ben Ayade.

The first is the BRISTISH – CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL- a world class model junior Seconday School located in Kakum,  Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State .

Upon completion,this school will boast of state -of -the- art facilities which include an academic/assembly block, a three storey building comprising  18 classrooms, Male/Female hostels of 40 rooms each,laboratory,library, dinning hall, staff accommodation, matron and patron houses, a clinic, sporting facilities for table tennis, football,basket ball, volleyball, etc
.
The school which is built and modelled in line with the British and Canadian standard of Education will provide its students with all round education for their overall development. This school will be open to all who place premium on not just quality education, but the over all development of their children and wards.

The choice of Obudu for the siting of this cynosure project is due to its conducive  environment, climate and its tourism potentials.

The State Quality Education Commissioner, Dr. Amanke went further to inspect the TEACHER’S CONTINUOUS TRAINING COLLEGE in Biase Local Government Area of the State.

 Just as the name implies, the school is built for the purpose of training and re-training of teachers across the State.

Before this time,teacher’s training  use to be done once a year during the long vacation for a period of one or two weeks at most  but with the establishment of this college, teachers training will be a continuous practice which will ensure that at all times, the State will have trained  all available  teachers to provide quality education for its students and pupils.

The training school upon completion will boast of a school hall, male and female domitaries, male and female hostels, amphi-theatre ,classrooms, staff quarters, cafeteria,administrative block, health center and Provost house.

Speaking after the inspection, Dr. Amanke  and his team which included the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Aniedi Ekpeyong, Director Schools Mrs Charity Ottoho, Director Quality Assurance Dr.( Mrs) Affiong-Odo Ugbaja expressed satisfaction  at the quality of work done and the commitment of the contractors.

 According to him,“it is very clear to see that under the Govenor Ben Ayade led administration, a new dawn has come for the delivery of basic and qualitative education in Cross River State and the best is yet to come.
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By:Uchino Amatey, CRS- MOI Officer reporting from CR- SUBEB.

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is holding a 5-day training workshop for Universal Basic Education Commission’s(UBEC) Social Mobilization Staff and State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB) School- Based Management Committees Desk Officers across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Calabar, Cross River State.

Declaring the Workshop open, the Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi stated that the role of SBMCs in promoting access to equitable, inclusive and quality education cannot be over-emphasized.

The Executive Secretary UBEC, who was represented by the Director of Administration, Rev. Edwin Jarumai, further stated that, the training  is one of the Commission’s strategies to ensure that SBMCs are supported and encouraged to discharge their roles effectively.

In his words: “I am convinced that, at the end of the training, participant’s capacity would have been beefed up to reposition them more to undertake grassroots advocacy, sensitization and mobilization of the school’s immediate communities and forge linkages with other stakeholders in support of school enrolment, retention, amongst others.”

He urged participants to demonstrate strong commitment and devote time throughout the period of the workshop, in order to derive maximum benefits that will add value to their work and also assist in contributing their quarter in the achievement of the UBE programme objectives.

The UBEC Executive Secretary extended gratitude to the training partner- UNICEF for its financial support and unwavering readiness to support basic education at all times.

In a goodwill message, the Executive Chairman,Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Stephen Odey, who was represented by the Director of Administration, SUBEB, Mr Emmanuel Ojong expressed gratitude to UBEC for the choice of Calabar as the training venue.

Describing the role of SBMCs as crucial to the development of basic education in the Country, he said SBMCs are at the forefront of tackling the problem of out of school children in Nigeria and enjoined participants to remain dedicated throughout the course of the training exercise  in order to get the necessary skills to tackle challenges faced in the discharge of their functions.

In a welcome address, the Director of Social Mobilization, UBEC, Alhaji Bello Kagara, said the training session has been designed to further strengthen capacity on SBMC implementation modalities and re-acquaint participants with newly revised operational documents.

Alhaji Kagara further stated that the focus of the training will be on the formation and functioning of SBMC Committees to support the voice of women, child protection, inclusive education and change management,emphasizing that
in the wake of the Commission’s disbursed support funds to 66 schools each in all 36 states and FCT, Social Mobilization Officers and SBMC Desk Officers must always ensure vigorous community participation and their eventual ownership of the projects.

“I urge you to use viable advocacy and sensitization tools and strategies in achieving this. You should guard jealously to see that the SBMCs make the UBE Programme a huge success by increasing access, improving quality and ensuring equity”,

The Lead resource person, Mallam Ibrahim Suleiman commended the Social Mobilization Department of UBEC for its effort in sustaining the engagements of stakeholders, especially SUBEBs School Based Management Committees.

 Mallam Suleiman said the training was timely, and will help in not only pushing the discourse on out of school children and inclusive education further, but also serve as a think-tank to proffer solutions to these challenges.

The 5-day workshop which kicked off with an opening ceremony at Channel View, Hotel, Calabar, will come to a close on the 28th of February, 2020.
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By:Ikongikwen Adie,CRS-MOI Officer reporting from Min of Education

In a bid to actualize the Ministry’s vision to provide quality education for the people of Cross River State,the Commisioner for Quality Education,Dr. Godwin Amanke has embarked on a tour of Local Education Authories of Local Government Areas in the Northern and Central Senatorial Districts of the State to interface with the Coordinating Supervisory Directors, Executive Secretaries and Evaluators in the area.

Dr. Amanke,who was accompanied on the tour by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry,Mrs Aniedi Ekpenyong;Director of Quality Assurance,Dr.Ugbuoaja and Director of Schools,Mrs Charity Ottoho was warmly received by the Coordinating Supervisory Director of Ogoja Zone, Mr. Godwin Andoya and the Executive Secretaries of  the five  Local Government Education Authorities(LGEAs) in the zone,Comprising Yala,Ogoja,Bekwarra,Obudu and Obanliku

The Coordinating Supervisory Director of Ogoja/Central zone, Mr Martins Eteng  and the Executive Secretaries  also accorded the Commissioner and his team a very warm reception and pledged their total support to the commitment of Governor Ben Ayade Led administration to deliver quality education across the State.

The two zones were faced with similar challenges, which they brought to the notice of the Commissioner and his team including none availability of vehicles for the Evaluators to access  difficult terrain,inadequate school facilities, low imprest,irregular transfer of Teachers, withdrawal of TSA from Evaluators,amongst others.

 The Executive Secretaries further drew Dr. Amanke’s attention to the proliferation of private schools, Evaluators who did not have the necessary pedagogical requirements to evaluate Teachers and also the need for more security staff as school and office materials are often carted away from the school by miscreants due to the absence of security personnel.

Speaking on the occasion,the Pemanant Secretary, Mrs Aniedi Ekpeyong encouraged the  Executive Secretaries and Evaluators to sit up and make sure that the mission and vision of the Ministry  is achieved.

 The Director of Schools,Mrs Charity Ottoho intimated them that school games competition, clubs and other extra curricular activities will be revived and a Desk Officer will be appointed at the zonal and LGEAs  levels to coordinate the events. Mrs Ottoho also informed them that a review of books will soon commence and indigenous Authors will be considered if they pass the review.
 According to her,Milo Championship is on going and Executive Serectaries are encouraged not to allow distance prevent them from keying their students into it.

 She advised that Teachers should register with their Professional bodies to avoid being disqualified.

On her part, the Director of Quality Assurance, Dr.Mrs Ugboaja appealed to the Executive Secretaries to ensure that no additional levies are imposed on Principals of Schools.   
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By: Ukongikwen Adie

The Commissioner for Quality Education, Dr. Godwin Amanke has charged the Executive Members of Post Graduate Student’s Association (PGSA) of the Cross River University of Technology to explore all avenues of remaining focused at the programme of study and build themselves for the growth and development of the society.

He gave the charge when the Executive Members of the Association paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Dr. Amanke expressed pleasure with the matured conduct of the Association adding that their conduct was not only gone a long way to preserved the dignity of the Institution but has also set an example for other undergraduates to emulate.

He thanked them for giving him a very impressive handmade card and assured them of ther Ministry’s support and commitment

In his remark, the President of the Union, Mr. Joseph Liwhuliwhe, thanked the Commissioner and his Management Staff for the warm reception accorded them and requested the Ministry’s assistance towards their efforts to access grants to publish their papers and fund their research projects in their academic pursuits.

Mr. Joseph also requested that those of them who are qualified, should be considered for employment to enable them contribute their quota towards the advancement of education and development as whole.

The Commissioner assured them that the government would look into their various requests, especially as regards accessing grants for research and publication to enable them grow academically. He also assured them of support and commitment stating that academic research works are looked upon seriously by government.

Highpoint of the visit was exchange of gifts and photo session.

It is no longer news that the Cross River State Government under the able leadership of Governor Ben Ayade, is currently building a world class model Junior Secondary School, in Obudu Local Government Area of the State called: The BRITISH – CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL,the first of its kind in Nigeria.

The school, which will be a cynosure of all eyes upon completion due to its massive infrastructure, including a 3-Storey building cpmprising 18 classrooms, Male and Female hostels of 40 rooms each, an Administration/Assembly building, a Clinic, Laboratory, Library, Dining hall, Staff accommodation, Sporting facilities (football, basketball, volleyball, hockey, table tennis and hand ball courts etc) gate house, police post, amongst others, and fully furnished with state-of-the-art-facilities.

One of the contractors who worked on the project, Architect Henry Arinze said “from what I have learnt,this is the biggest Secondary School in the Country, there is no Secondary School that has thirty-one buildings in the Country. The facilities we have here is enough to start a University. I have been in Consultancy for twenty-seven years, and I have not seen a college this big, this is the biggest and the best.”

This is not surprising, because anyone who knows Prof. Ben Ayade knows that his fast thinking, analytical pace is unmatched and his deep vision for Cross River State has led to great ideas and projects which to ‘mere mortals’ may seem impossible to achieve, but not Governor Ayade. His continuous strive to always deliver the best in terms of service delivery to Cross riverians and his unrepentant knack to improve the education sector, by providing access to quality education is driving the actualization of the British- Canadian International School.

One of the most interesting features of this school is that students will get all round development, not just a formal education. Also, as part of its collaborative efforts, the School which is fashioned in line with the British and Canadian standard of education will engage foreign professionals to provide a blend of sophisticated curricular.

This was clearly stated by the Executive Chairman, Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Stephen Odey, when he said “there is going to be collaboration, the type of teachers we are going to have here, they are not going to be only teachers within the locality, we are bringing in foreign teachers. The concept is that the school will not only be for formal education, as part of extra-curricular activities, students will learn music and engage in other activities.

Recreation is also very important, those things we have not seen in Cross River State are the things we will see here…education in Cross River State will take a different dimension.”

The choice of location for the school is another important factor; remember, Cross River State is known as a tourism State with many towering tourism offerrings aside the Carnival Calabar. Some of which include, the Kwa falls in Akamkpa, Marina Resort in Calabar, Agbokim Waterfalls in Etung, Obudu Mountain Resort in Obudu, amongst others.

Since the school is of international standard and not meant for Cross Riverians and Nigerians alone, it became pertinent to link the State tourism potentials with Education so that students and parents/guardians from outside Cross River can have a wholesome experience, when coming into the State. So the choice of Obudu was to take advantage of its tourism potential and its conducive environment.

Today, the world is technologically driven and those who will not join the train will be left behind. The infusion of digital trends in education is key to aid better learning and teaching experience for both students and teachers. In recognition of this, and as part of efforts to enhance effective teaching and learning using 21st century teaching/ learning tools, Interactive white boards will be installed in all the Classrooms, as well as 24hours internet connectivity in the Library.

Anyone who wants quality education in line with global best practices should look up to the British-Canadian International School upon its completion. The Board is doing all it can to ensure that the project is completed and academic activities commence in September, 2020.

Before the emergence of this present administration, Cross River State was listed among the least performing States in the basic education sector, owing to a number of reasons, such as unaccessed UBE grants.

Today, the story is different, backlog of grants have been accessed, newly constructed/rehabilitated classroom blocks are being littered across the State, sick bays are being built in Primary Schools, computers and solar powered panels are being supplied to schools. Quality of teaching has improved due to the intense personnel audit conducted by the Board and training/re-training of teachers, recreational facilities and sporting equipment have been supplied to schools, the list is endless.

With all these innovations in the basic education sector there is no denying the fact that CROSS RIVER SUBEB is indeed charting a new course for basic education not only in the State, but in the entire Nigeria.

By: Ukongikwen Adie

The Cross River State Commissioner for Quality Education, Dr. Godwin Amanke has restated government’s commitment towards the delivery of quality education not only in Secondary Schools, but in all the State- owned Tertiary Institutions across the State.

Dr Amanke made this known while recieving in audience  the Acting Vice Chancellor, Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), Prof. David Ogar;the Provost, College Education, Akamkpa, Dr. James E. Archibong and the Rector of Institute of Technology and Management( ITM), Ugep, Dr. Jeffery Thompson represented by the Registrar, Dr. Emmanuel Yarie in his office in Calabar.

According to the Commissioner, “I am here with my feet on the ground, to make sure that there is a positive change in the delivery of quality education in Cross River State.”

He commended the Heads of the different Institutions for holding the forth so far, particularly, the College of Education, Akamkpa for their convocation ceremony which held in November, 2019.

The Commissioner assured them that the State government under the watch of Governor Ben Ayade is committed to the delivery of quality education to the people of the State,emphasizing that their various requests and challenges would be communicated to the Governor for further necessary action.

In their Separate remarks, the Heads of the Institutions thanked the Commissioner for the warm reception accorded them and pledged their unflinching support to give the State Government the needed cooperation to achieve its policies on education in the State.