Sixty one years down the line, the impact of the trillions of Naira pumped into the sector is yet to be felt as some schools have been left dilapidated, some abandoned while some are under staffed.
This special report x-rays the teaching learning conditions of public schools in some communities in Engenni Kingdom, Ahoada West Local Government area of Rivers State.
Today FM visited Akiogbolo Community Primary Secondary, the school has been abandoned for years, leaving members of the community with no options than to travel miles to take their children for learning.
In this report, parents of this community expressed worries that their children are gradually passing the age of attending basic education while some say their kids have out-grown primary education and couldn’t’further their education because they lacked basic learning.
Meanwhile, people of Kunishia expressed dissatisfaction as they say they have not felt the presence of government in their area, noting that the only school they have is the one built by the community over thirty years ago.
They however noted that the school is falling apart, as they are left with empty classes with no chairs and lack of science lab and necessary teaching learning materials for their children as they couldn’t afford to get any.
They further noted the lack of teachers in the school, stressing the level of non-supervision by rivers state government towards educational activities in the area.
Today FM Sandra Kenneth further paid a visit to Okarki Community Secondary School where, Rivers State Government had flagged and started building project for the school three years ago but was abandoned after roofing.
Students in the school who pleaded with government to assist with ensuring they get quality education stressed that they lack where to learn as part of the school has been under construction for years.
Further reports that the Okarki Community Secondary School’s project which includes the building of classrooms, chapel, hostels have been abandoned with grasses grown around it, while the Akiogbologbo community primary school have been abandoned with no chairs, or any learning materials or teachers found in the school.
Also that the Kunishia Community Secondary School is dilapidated with no chairs for students, lack of instructional materials and lack of teachers.
Meanwhile, His Majesty, King of Engenni Kingdom, the Okilomubie III Moore Maclean who expressed worry over what he described as the lack of government presence in education sector decried the continuous neglect by both multi national and state government.
He maintained that they have been depending on self-help in ensuring several sectors especially education is working in the area.
Engenni Kingdom with thirty working oil wells and multinationals, have continued to decry the deplorable state of vital sector in their kingdom.
With N1.1tr budget on education from Federal Government, with N70.5bn allocated for Universal Basic Education and N30,462,201 budgeted by the Rivers State Government to continue reconstructing existing schools, boost infrastructures, enhance access and retention rates and improve educational outcomes, it is obvious that it has been much ado about nothing in Nigeria’s education sector.
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