<<< By Tahav Agerzua >>>
The committee on review of policy on grant-in-aid and handover of post primary schools in the state set up by Governor Ortom has recommended a phased handover and review of Benue State education laws.
Chairman of the Committee and Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Bishop William Avenya made this known while presenting the report to Governor Ortom yesterday at the New Banquet Hall of Benue Peoples House, in Makurdi.
Bishop Avenya explained that the phased handover of schools should commence from September this year to September 2021 and advocated continued intervention in proprietary Schools to enable the system function effectively.
The Bishop who called for re-introduction of Teacher Training Colleges and domestication of the contributory pension scheme, also expressed optimism that the report would be implemented by the Ortom administration so that their efforts would not be in vain like it was in the past.
Also presenting her report to the Governor, chairperson of the visitation panel to the Akawe Torkula College of Advanced and Professional Studies, Makurdi, Professor Nancy Agbe, recommended the conversion of the school into a Polytechnic or an Entrepreneurship Development Centre.
Professor Agbe suggested that a qualified accountant be appointed to man the Bursary Department for prudent management of funds as well as the construction of a perimeter fence around the school to avoid encroachment on its land.
She added that the law establishing the institution shoul be amended to give it a legal backing and emphasised that due process was not followed in the award of contracts at the school and recommended the recovery of various amounts from contractors for jobs not done or completed.
Receiving the two reports,Governor Ortom said he has constituted a committee headed by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Dennis Ityavyar to help reposition the education sector in the State and expressed hope that the reports could help in that regard.
He stressed that the partnership his administration had forged with the church would be sustained in the education, health, and agriculture and assured the committees the implementation of their reports.
According to him it was gratifying to note that his modest efforts in the development of education have been recognised by people at home and in the diaspora, citing the recent awards presented to him by the Tiv and Idoma people in the United States of America.
Art works dyed clothing materials made from the Akawe Torkula College of Advanced and Professional Stidies were presented to the Governor.