Bayelsa parents should avoid negative influence on their children – Dickson

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has decried the attitude of some parents in the state towards the education of their children, describing it as a setback for his government’s efforts in that sector‎.
Dickson who came out with this while declaring open‎ the 76th Bayelsa State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Yenagoa said the time has come to correct such anomaly in order to produce more educated Bayelsans.
The governor was reacting to preliminary reports which indicates that there has been poor enrolment of students in the compulsory boarding school which commenced in four schools last Sunday.
He said, “What most Bayelsans are interested in is how to buy big cars and live in big houses. But the education of their children that is very important they don’t take it serious. We really have to change that. We have spent over N50 billion in the last five years to deliver the most comprehensive and robust educational infrastructure designed to empower our children to become agents of change for a better society.
“We have built modern secondary schools with boarding facilities across the state, built from scratch
by the Restoration Government and fully equipped with science laboratories and modern facilities required for 21st century learning. The in-take capacity of each of the schools can accommodate a student population of over 400 with free tuition, free text books, free feeding and free uniforms.
“Everything has been provided free because we want to incubate and nurture these children, instill discipline, create the values standard and raise academic excellence so that they we can have a new generation of leaders with a totally different mindset to enable them achieve economic success and live more satisfying lives”.
While announcing the formal commencement of the Education ‎Trust Fund, the governor stressed that his administration is serious in building a new generation of future leaders that will take over the state and consolidate on the gains achieved so far.
He again expressed delight at the feat recorded by the 21‎ Lincoln University graduates in the United States and also the current performance of students at the Ijaw National Academy in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area.
“I have started receiving reports from some parents of students at the Ijaw National Academy that they are seeing changes in them and I am excited about that. It goes to show that we are on course to reposition the state for greatness”.
Dickson called on all those who have not keyed into the vision of his government on education to do so and also urged traditional and community leaders to ensure no child in their domain stays at home during school hours.