Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has raised the alarm that 75 per cent of primary schools in the State do not have teachers while 90 per cent are dilapidated.
Fubara, who described the condition of primary schools as troubling, said his administration was focused on turning around the fortunes of education, health and agriculture in the state.
The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, explained that he became aware of the deplorable state of the primary schools when a firm, New Global, visited the state for partnership.
He said the firm came to partner with his administration to enhance the capacity of teachers, but he asked them to perform field assessment of the personnel that they intended to train.
Fubara said the report from the field was very disappointing because the firm did not find the number of teachers to undergo the training for the benefit of Rivers’ children.
The governor emphasised the crucial place primary school system occupied in the educational journey of any child in shaping the character, instilling essential skills, and fostering quest for learning, saying it was obviously ignored in the past.
Fubara, however, emphasised that his administration, had its focus firmly on education, health and agriculture sectors to change the ills identified in the system.
Fubara said: “It will surprise you to note that an agency came to Rivers State. They call them ‘New Global’, and they were willing to spend $5million. It is not for infrastructure but to train our teachers, to provide softwares and other things to improve the learning process at the primary level.
“I told them to go round and assess the primary schools in the state. After their assessment, you won’t believe it that 75 percent of our primary schools have no teachers. 90 percent of the schools are dilapidated.
“So, how will you now put in the $5million? So, when I said education, I really mean education. It’s not education where we renovate schools, and call people for commissioning.
“We are talking about touching what is important, because, for us to develop as a society, for us to get it right from the foundation, it is at the primary school level.
“If we don’t have that aspect right as a foundation to preparing our youths as the leaders of tomorrow, then, we have lost it,” he added.
The governor also noted that the tertiary health institutions in the state was overstretched because the primary and secondary health facilities were not functional.
Fubara said that in the coming days, the five zonal hospitals would be revisited so that they could become operational to expand healthcare services available to the people.
He said: “The only health facilities that are functional in this State are the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), and maybe, the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).
“The other aspects of the healthcare system that should be functioning are the primary and secondary healthcare. We have to do everything that is within our power to make sure that they function.
“Now, you see, there is so much pressure because the primary healthcare centres have a limit of what they can attend to. So, the pressure is always with the tertiary institutions, what you call the teaching hospitals.
“We have already taken it upon ourselves, by the special grace of God, in the next one or two weeks, we are going to make sure that we revisit the five zonal hospitals in the state to make sure that they function.
“Now, when they function, they will give support to the primary healthcare centres. A lot of people die because of minor illnesses and unavailability of health centres, not well-equipped with qualified personnel. So, we know it is important.
“It might not be something people are seeing, but those are the key things to development and the things that people need, and to prove that, yes, we have a functional government”.
Fubara said there was already so much work ongoing to revamp some agricultural facilities, and make the sector attractive in order to guarantee food sufficiency and create employment for the youths.
He said: “You already know what we are doing and what we are trying to do in the aspect of agriculture. God being on our side, it will work and work well for everyone of us”.
On reviving moribund state-owned industries, the governor said: “We know that the only way we can combat crime is providing employment. I don’t think any criminal feels happy when he is enjoying his money. This is because he does so in hiding. He does it with fear.
“When you have a legitimate means of livelihood, even if it’s N10,000 that you are making, you enjoy it happily without fear. I know a lot of people want that.
“We will visit those areas to see what we can get out of it so that employment will be, at least, more for those our unemployed youths who by virtue of having nothing to do, end up resorting to crime as the only way out.”
While acknowledging their feat in successful completion of the Ramadan fasting, Fubara thanked the Muslim community for their prayers and support to his administration.
The Governor noted with delight their efforts at coordinating, mediating and ensuring a reduction to the minimum incidences of farmers-herders’ clashes in the State.
He assured that his administration would continue to create the enabling environment for them to practice their faith and other endeavours that positively impact on the development of the state while promoting peace.
Leader of the delegation and Vice-President-General, Rivers State Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe Uhor, thanked Fubara for his financial support that enabled them to participate in Hajj last year, and his inclusive policy that has given the community a sense of belonging.
Uhor, who assured that the Muslim community would not relent in partnering with the Governor and his government, emphasised that they were solidly behind him, and approve of his people-oriented policies and programmes.
He also condemned activities of those, who wanted to truncate the administration with impeachment threats on the Governor and persecution of his Chief of Staff, Dr Edison Ehie.
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyer