In his efforts to enhance day to day operations of the Science , Technical and Vocational educational system in the state, Enugu state Governor , Dr. Peter Mbah has donated 30 Toyota Hiace buses to the Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board(STVSMB) for distribution to 30 STV schools , adding that 9 additional buses will be delivered to the remaining 9 schools.
Presenting the keys of the buses to the Chairman of STVSMB, Dr Amaka Ngene , at the Board’s premises on Friday in Enugu, representative of the Governor , the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Innovation and Director, Experiential Learning , Enugu Green Smart School, Owo, Dr. Chinyere Onyisi , said the gesture was to ease movement and quicken the day to day operations of the schools.
She said, “Indeed, it is an exciting moment to be here. So , we are here and witnessed the handover of keys to the Principals, which is a sign that our Governor is looking forward to seeing that every principal is up and doing ; doing what they are supposed to do irrespective of location, in respective of where you are, distance is no longer a barrier .
Pix: Dr Ngene receiving the keys from Dr. Onyisi
“With these vehicles, you can move about to ensure that you are doing what you are supposed to be doing in school, monitoring the teaching and learning, follow up the entire activities of education. You have seen what is happening in Enugu state . What is happening in Enugu state is a transformation. Today’s education has shifted from content memorization to creativity, critical thinking and problem solving approach . You have seen that everything is revolutionising. Education in Enugu state is taking the lead,” Dr. Onyisi said.
Commending the Chairman of the STVSMB, Dr Amaka Ngene , for her outstanding performances in the Board, Dr. Onyisi said:
“I want to encourage the Board chairman. You are working so hard to ensure that principals are doing the right thing .I want to assure you that our future will be great and our children will compete with their contemporaries anywhere in the world courtesy of our Governor and our tomorrow is here.
” So ,we are happy to have a transitional leader ,and amazing leader who loves education, who believes that our future is here, tomorrow children, we are preparing them to become the leaders of tomorrow “, she said.
She encouraged the Principles of the schools to work together as a team to reposition technical and Vocational schools in Enugu state.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the STVSMB, Dr Amaka Ngene said the governor, Dr Peter Mbah, provided 30 buses for 30 schools and 9 more will be delivered.
Dr. Ngene
“We came to hand over 30 buses that His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah donated for our Science, Technical and Vocational schools. So, the Principals are here, the drivers are there. They have already received their orientation on how to handle the vehicles. They are going to sign for us an undertaking to take these vehicles and for the purposes they were meant for.”
She thanked the governor for the great works he is doing in Enugu state, saying:
“He is a man of passion for education and this is the result of the fraction of the 33% he has provided in his budget for education. We are here to hand over the buses to the schools, for the use to serve our students. We can’t thank His Excellency and the Commissioner for education enough and all that have contributed in making this possible.”.
“We are having 9 more on the way”, Dr. Ngene said.
She added that the buses will ease the transportation problems of the schools, for emergence problem too..
“These vehicles will go a long way to serve the purposes. Often times we have issues they usually have difficulty transporting students, so these buses will go a long way to alleviating that problem,” she said.
The Chairman disclosed that the Board also held orientation for the Principals and the Drivers. During the orientation, Dr. Ngene told the principals that the Board can allow them take the vehicles if they can drive and if they cannot drive, they will get approval to hire drivers, adding that they were on the process.
She also urged the drivers to get a current Driver’s license
“If you are going through verification and you have not been verified as a driver by the verification committee, we will not give you tag for the vehicles until you are cleared as our staff,* Dr. Ngene said.
Speaking with newsmen, the Principal of Special Science School, Oghe, Rev Sr. Kizito expressed appreciation to the Governor ‘s gesture to the teachers and the students. She said the buses will be very useful to the school. “It will help us in the movement to the board, for one education function or the other, this bus will be very very useful., ” the principal said
On his part, the Chief Supervisory Principal, Nsukka, Education , Alumona Sylvester Chukwuemeka , appreciated Governor Mbah for “the great works he has done”. He also appreciated the chairman of the STVSMB, Dr Ngene, whom he said ” is doing marvellously well.
He assured that the buses will be used for the purposes they were meant for., promising that there will be routine check and maintenance of the buses.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama