By Dayo Adesulu

THE UNESCO World Book Capital Model Primary School, Aggrey Road, has opened for academic activities after the Rivers State Government moved pupils from Banham primary school to the new edifice at Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

The UNESCO World Book Capital school is one of the newly constructed 20 classroom block built across the state to expand the pupils access to education. The state government had on 16th January 2015 commenced the movement of pupils from old schools to the newly constructed one storey 20-classroom block. The school is well equipped with the State-of-the-art facilities like the sick bay, Library, music class, science laboratories, ICT etc.

The Commissioner for Education Rivers State, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi during her visit to the school, charged the pupils and teachers to take advantage of the facilities in the school to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the State.

Alice Nemi also said that the State will host a Parent Forum before the end of this administration. “The essence of the Parent Forum is to intimate the parents of their responsibilities in raising their children.” As the commissioner noted that parents are major stakeholders in education management and development.

Meanwhile, pupils of Banham Primary School cannot contain their joy after seeing the facilities at the UNESCO World Book capital school. The Head Teacher of the school Mrs. Ibiene Ereme said that she was short of words to described the kind of facilities in the school.

Kind of facilities

She said that the teachers and pupils can now settle down to learn as the conducive environment provided by the State Government will make teaching very easy and fun. Mrs Ereme also commended the State Government for providing such edifice and promised that the teachers will do their best in bringing up educated children.

Pupils of the school also lavished praises on Governor Rotimi Amaechi for providing a conducive learning environment for them. They said that the new school cannot be compared to where they were coming from.

The Chairman of State Universal Basic Education Board SUBEB, Sir Ali Oruitemeka said the reason for moving the pupils to the new structure is because the environment is conducive for learning.

He stated that the upsurge in the enrolment of pupils into government owned schools in the state necessitated the construction of 20 classroom blocks across the State.

Besides, Port Harcourt being named the World Book Capital City, WBCC, the schools are well equipped with books and e-books. The State Government is using the medium to promote reading culture among pupils and students.

Every school has reading period and pupils are made to pick a book. Each pupil will summarize the book during book reviews at the end of the period.