By NATHAN NWAKAMMA

The Bayelsa Government says it will place priority on the teaching and learning of Ijaw, French and Chinese Languages as well as Science and Mathematics in public schools in the state.

The Deputy Governor, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, disclosed this when the national and state chapters of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) paid him a courtesy visit in Yenagoa.

Ewhrudjakpo explained that the emphasis on the above listed languages, in addition to the core science subjects was to equip the children to take full advantage of career opportunities offered by those subjects in the future.

He noted that the growing economic influence of China in global affairs today, justified the inclusion of Chinese Language as a subject of interest in the school curriculum.

The deputy governor commended the group for sharing in the promotion of programmes to uplift the state.

“I am happy for the programme you are introducing it is in tandem with the thinking of the state government.

“For us, we have made it compulsory and we are pursuing Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) because we believe that with that, the negative impression of Bayelsa State would change sooner or later.

“We are recruiting more teachers in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, agriculture science and computer science. The other subjects we are placing priority on are: Chinese, French and Ijaw languages,’’ he said.

Ewhrudjakpo urged APWEN members to make team work their watchword to achieve their objectives.

He appealed to the body to include male students in their programmes for gender balancing.

The deputy governor explained that engineering career required a lot of hard work for one to be awarded fellowship, urging them to partner with other male-dominated professions to gain more visibility.

He advised them to do more in encouraging the girl-child at secondary schools to take up engineering profession as a course of study and profession.

Ewhrudjakpo appreciated APWEN for bestowing awards on him in recognition of his contributions to the growth and development of the engineering profession in the state and the country.

Earlier in their separate remarks, the state Chairman of APWEN, Diepreye Owana-Omubo, and the Vice Chairman, Dr Ann Jonathan-Obuebitei, said the association was doing everything to encourage the girl-child to take up engineering at the basic education level.

They commended the state government for establishing more technical colleges and the recruitment of Science and Mathematics teachers to promote STEM education in the state.

The highpoint of the visit was presentation of two special awards to the deputy governor by the National President of APWEN, represented by the APWEN Chairman, Owana-Omubo and its Vice Chairman, Jonathan-Obuebite. (NAN)

Update news