Principals of Rivers State Government Secondary Schools have decried the poor condition of the schools under their care. They have also lamented lack of permanent mathematics, English and science teachers in their schools, a situation they described as regrettable in the public school system.
The principal of community Secondary School, Uegwere Boue in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr. Kpee Tombari George made this assertion when our correspondent visited the school to verify complaints over unapproved levies for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) registration by the authorities of the schools.
According to the principal, the chances of students passing the WAEC exam is very slim due to is lack of permanent teachers in the school, adding that the knowledge being imparted to the students is poor, NYSC members deployed to the school he said could not help the situation.
Mr. Tombari George said to salvage the situation, he hires contract teachers and pays them with his personal salary. However, The Newswriter gathered that the contract teachers are paid from students’ contribution, contrary to the principal’s claim that he uses his personal salary to pay the teachers.
Some of the students, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “We are suffering so much in the school; some of us are here because our parents cannot afford to face the financial challenges in the private schools due to poverty, otherwise it is a waste of time.”
The students expressed pessimism over their chances of passing their WAEC examination because of the development. “A situation where you come to school and nobody teaches you from Monday to Friday, then how can we be academically equipped to make our papers? Infact, some of us just come to the school just to see our friends and spend time; please the state government should try to send teachers to the school to redeem the lost value of the public school,” one of them pleaded.
In a related development, the principal of GSS Bori, Chief (Dr.) Deewa JNG has decried the poor state of his school which he said lacked permanent teachers, especially for English, mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. He also said that the school lack facilities, laboratory equipment and staff room for teachers, lamenting that de-roofed building and lack of water facilities have been the lot of the school, especially the academic sections.
The principal said he humbly appealed to the state government to give attention to the needs of the school, advising that government should set up a vibrant and effective committee for immediate action on the issue.
In GSS Kono Boue and B.N.C.S.S Gwara, the principals, Mr. Alobari R.Y.S and Isaac S.P. respectively, also decried the poor state of their schools just as their counterparts. They complained that some of their school buildings are deroofed, while some of the offices of the principal and vice principal (academic) are not befitting for such purpose. Regrettably, in GSS Kaa, the principal of the school, Mr. Nsapane Edward, also lamented over the state of the school which he said had led to loss of public confidence in education, due to state government’s negligence despite several complaints by the school authorities. He said that contract teachers are hired and paid by the Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) to keep the school system running which finally resulted to increase in WAEC registration fees for students of the school, appealing to the state government to pay urgent attention to the school. These claims were also re-echoed by the principal of GSS Luawii, Mr. Deeyor Simeon Lebari when our correspondent visited the school. All efforts made to speak with the Commissioner for Education, Dame Nemi Alice Lawrence on the complaints of the principals of the schools proved abortive as both the SA and PA to the commissioner could not aid the communication. ###
Alapakabia Tobin
