Decaying Education Standard, Comr.Ebimaye Makes Case For Riverine Schools, Urges Gov Okowa To Declare State Of Emergency On Riverine Schools Or Privatize

Decaying Education Standard, Comr.Ebimaye Makes Case For Riverine Schools, Urges Gov Okowa To Declare State Of Emergency On Riverine Schools Or Privatize

Francis Tayor

Warri______ A youth leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Comrade Freeborn Ebimaye Abraye has appealed to the Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa to declare a state of emergency to the fast decaying riverine schools, stressing that most riverine schools lacks teacher, conducive learning environment and proper management.

He further charged governor Okowa to resuscitate the schools as a matter of urgency or privatize them to private individuals for proper management to enable riverine dwellers access quality education.

According to Comr. Abraye said; " I think its gradually getting to the point where we will have no other option but to appeal for the privatization of the schools in the riverine communities, since the state government has decided not to take full responsibility of the schools.

The present state of the schools in our riverine communities is so pathetic to the point where classes are been rationed in some schools.

In order to meet up with the elaborate syllabus, the  headmistress of one of the primary schools in Gbaramatu kingdom, who happens to be the only government staff and teacher in the  school had to ration the classes in  order for her not to  over stress herself.

The headmistress had to ration the classes in the school due to the lack of teachers. The classes are rationed in a way that  primary 1,2 and 3 are asked to come to school on Monday, while primary 4,5 and 6 are  to stay at home. And the next day, primary 1,2 and 3 are asked to stay at home, while primary 4,5 and 6 will then come to school for their lectures.

This act of rationing of classes was necessitated due to the lack of teachers in the school. Which we believe is the primary responsibility of the government to post adequate number of teachers to the schools.

This is the situation of schools in Gbaramatu kingdom. And our government seems to be quiet over this  appalling situation.

This constant negligence of the schools in the riverine communities by the Delta State  government, had left us with no choice but to appeal for the privatization of the schools in the riverine communities, especially in Gbaramatu kingdom.

It is indeed a disheartening thing to see that the riverine communities which are the economic backbone of the state has to go through such a disturbing situation, as regards education.

What then is the benefit of these communities from this government, which the communities worked so hard to bring into power.

Every development that is not education oriented, is not a true development. As education is an integral part of development.
So it is my humble appeal to the Delta state government to lay more emphasis in improving the educational standard of the riverine communities.

The government should carryout massive renovations of schools with dilapidated structures, building of laboratories and libraries, and most importantly, posting of  adequate number of teachers to these schools. As it is the right of the communities in the riverine areas to share in the quality education enjoyed by students and pupils in the cities, the statement adds."