It has emerged that only about 10 per cent of schools across the state are in an appreciable state, despite claims by past governments, on investment made in that sector over the years.
Besides, most of the schools do not have teachers, even as it has been revealed that there the state can hardly boast of functional hospitals.
The revelations were contained in a special report produced by a Non Governmental Agency which undertook a tour of the state, to assess the state of schools. The agency, New Global, was even willing to spend a whopping $5million, according to the state governor, Sim Fubara.
Fubara said this on Wednesday when he received a delegation led by the Vice President-General, Rivers State Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe Uhor, during a Sallah visit.
“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”, he said.
Governor Fubara said further: “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.
Fubara said the report from the field was very disappointing because the firm did not find the number of teachers that should so trained, which should have benefitted Rivers children tremendously.
The governor emphasised the crucial place that primary school occupies in the educational journey of any child in shaping the character, instilling essential skills, and fostering quest for learning, which, obviously had been ignored in the past.
He, however, assured that his administration, having its focus firmly on Education, Health and Agriculture sectors, will ensure a change in what has been identified.
He added: “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,” he said.
In his address, 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.
Alhaji Uhor, who assured that the Muslim community will 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, in strong terms, also condemned activities of those who want to truncate the Administration with impeachment threats on the governor and persecution of his Chief of Staff, Dr Edison Ehie.
