The Isaac Adaka Boro College of Education and the Teachers’ Training Institute, both in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa, would start academic activities by May, Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa said.
The governor made this known on Sunday when he paid an unscheduled visit to the sites of the two institutions to ascertain the level of work done on the projects.
At the Teachers Training Institute in Bolou-Orua Community, Dickson directed the Commissioner for Education, Mr Salo Adikumo, to renovate the six-classrooms block at the Community Secondary School where the institute was sited.
He said that when renovated, the institute would have additional classrooms for lectures.
He also directed the commissioner to liaise with his lands and survey counterpart to acquire more land near the school to enable government to build other befitting structures for the institute.
The governor stressed the need to have hostels, recreational facilities and residential accommodation for the Canadian and other qualified indigenous lecturers of the institute.
Earlier, Dickson, who addressed chiefs and other people of Bolou-Orua Community, said that his administration attached high premium to teachers’ education.
He said that the state government’s ambition was to provide quality education to students, “which may not be actualised in the absence of competent teaching staff.’’
The governor commended the people “for the abiding support given to me right from my days in the House of Representatives to date and for cooperating with the contractors handling projects in Bayelsa.’’
He said that the government had not received any adverse reports since the commencement of the projects in the community.
Responding, the Spokesman of the community, Mr Godwill Edorge, expressed delight over the governor’s visit.
He also commended the governor for the development strides so far executed in the state within his one year in office.
He pledged the community’s support for the programmes and policies of the government.