Diri Unhappy Over State Of Public Schools In Bayelsa
Edith CHUKU
The governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has directed the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah, to immediately take steps to address dilapidated structures in schools across the state.
Diri gave this directive when he paid an unscheduled visit to some schools in the state, where he expressed displeasure at the state of facilities in the public schools.
The governor who spoke in Kaiama at the end of an unscheduled visit to Saint Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata-Yenagoa, and the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, said the government’s budgetary provisions and expenditure in the education sector do not match the reality on ground.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, the Bayelsa helmsman frowned at the absence of sporting facilities as well as the uncompleted dining hall at the Ijaw National Academy.
Diri directed the commissioner to ensure that the contractor returned to site.
He restated the commitment of his administration to development of the education sector giving its importance to nation building.
Diri said he will undertake more unscheduled visits to schools and other government departments to see things for himself and called on relevant officials to take more seriously maintenance of public facilities.
He said with the progress made by the state in external examinations such as the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), it was necessary to put the right facilities in place to enable the students perform better.
“I have been to Saint Jude’s and I am here at the Ijaw National Academy. I am not satisfied with what I have seen.
“If schools that are in the urban, motorable areas are in this state, how would those in the rural, riverine communities be like?
“In this second tenure, I will pay unscheduled visits to our schools, hospitals and other important government agencies.
“Students are very important. I am not happy with the state of dilapidation I saw at St Jude’s. We must strengthen supervision.
“I have directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure that your school is rehabilitated. I have also directed that between now and Friday, the completed basketball court be handed over to the school authorities in Saint Jude’s. This is a school that has been doing well and has made our state proud many times in basketball.”
Highpoint of the visit was the governor, who was a teacher, returning to the classroom at the INA to teach senior secondary students preparing for Government as a subject in the upcoming WASC examination.
