The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. O. R. Ofuru said that the Principals of Government Technical Colleges in Port Harcourt will be accountable in the use of fund entrusted to their care. Mr Ofuru said this while introducing the newly constituted School Base Management Committee (SBMC) and Project Implementation Committee (PIC) to member of State Project Coordinating Unit (SPCU) of State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) Project in his office recently.
The Permanent Secretary said the SBMC will serve as the Governing Council of the project in the schools while the PIC will ensure the smooth running of the Project in the various institutions and advised them to make good use of fund that would be released to them by SEEFOR Project. He commended the World Bank for their intervention and advised “…every member of the committees must work to ensure that change is achieved. If the World Bank is coming to assist the Technical Colleges then we must make it work.”
On accreditation, he assured them that his Ministry will ensure that the schools are duly accredited. In his speech the Coordinator of the Project, Mr Kelcious Amos thanked the Permanent Secretary for constituting the SBMC and PIC as required by the World Bank.
He however enjoined the Principals to see their working with the Permanent Secretary “… as a big opportunity due to his wealth of experience.” Which he said will be beneficial to them not only in the Project but in their life endeavours. Responding on behalf of the Principals, the Principal of Government Technical College, Ahoada, Mr. Loveday A. Nwuwa thanked the Permanent Secretary for the rare opportunity given to them to serve in a multidimensional Project like SEEFOR and assured him that they will put in their best to ensure the success of the Project in the Technical Colleges. Mr Nwuwa appealed to the Permanent Secretary to assist the schools in the area of accreditation for those yet to be accredited.
With constitution of the SBMC and PIC in the Technical Colleges, it is expected that the Project after the formal inauguration and training of the committee members, will provide technical assistance to the schools through its SPCU.
