By DAYO ADESULU

The Rivers State Government has launched the School Based Management Committees, SBMC, which will be responsible for the running and management of the schools across the State.

Speaking at the launch at the Dame Christy Toby Model Primary School, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, the state  Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, noted that community participation in the management of schools will create a conducive environment for teaching and learning.

She explained that the rationale behind the establishment of the SBMC   is for community ownership and involvement in school governance and maintenance of facilities, stressing that that quality learners are those who are healthy and supported in learning by their families and communities.

According to her, quality education has always been measured on quality of content in curriculum and how well such fits the present and future needs of learners.

“The new concept of dimensions in quality relates to quality learners among other dimensions.

“Quality learners according to UNESCO are learners who are healthy and supported in learning by their families and communities.”

Highlighting the essence of the initiative, the Commissioner said “SBMC creates an educational environment suitable for the teaching and learning process where the core values of accountability, transparency, integrity and good management are practiced.

“SBMC is intended to move education forward, especially at the basic level through a combined effort of the government, community, teachers and the children.

“The committees are established to act as a bridge between schools and the communities they serve and to achieve effective community participation in the management and governance of primary and secondary schools.”

The Commissioner who noted that the investment of the state government  in education sector is to ensure its citizenry have access to quality education added that the biggest gift any Government can give to its citizens is education.

She charged members of the newly constituted committees to brace up to the challenge of administering quality management in the schools.

“The investment of the state government in the education sector is an indication of its desire for a more educated citizenry.

“In the last six years of this administration, Governor Rotimi Amaechi has taken giant strides in the education sector in Rivers State like no other government before him.

“Since the biggest thing we can give our children and the future generation is the chance to realize their rights to education, we want to use this medium to task all members of the Committees to brace up to the challenge of administering quality management in our schools.”