Edith CHUKU
The Rivers State government has reaffirmed its commitment to the safety, welfare and education of every child in the state.
In response to the viral video circulating online on the devastating flooding situation at Community Secondary School, Rumuapara, in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the state ministry of education and environment, paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to the school.
The tour was conducted to assess the extent of the flooding, as the school was heavily submerged following torrential rainfall.
On Wednesday, stakeholders and concerned residents took to their social media handles to call for the urgent intervention of the state government to address the worsening flood situation.
They expressed concern over the potential health risks posed by the flooded environment to students, as well as the dangers associated with learning under such conditions.
According to the residents, teachers and students have been forced to access their classrooms and officers using makeshift wooden bridges, raising concerns about their safety and wellbeing.
An old student of the school, Mr Godpower Green, said “I write with a heavy heart over the recent flood disaster that has submerged Community Secondary School, Rumuapara Nkpolu, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State.
“The condition of the school is deeply critical. Classrooms are flooded, the school compound is waterlogged, and our children can no longer have access to a conducive learning environment. Learning has been disrupted and the future of these students is at risk.
“These students are the leaders of tomorrow. They are our children, our brothers, our sisters and our relatives. We cannot afford to watch them suffer in silence.
“Community Secondary School, Rumuapara is very dear to me, it was my first secondary school I attended in the year 1993 before proceeding to other secondary schools. Seeing my alma mater in this deplorable state is heartbreaking.
“I therefore humbly use this medium to make a passionate appeal to the Rivers State Government, the Ministry of Education, Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, NDDC, NGOs, and all well-meaning individuals, to please come to the rescue of Community Secondary School, Rumuapara Nkpolu.
“Urgent intervention is needed to control the flooding, rehabilitate the school, and restore a safe and conducive environment for learning.
The education of our children should not be left to drown in flood.”
During the inspection led by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Mina Tele Ikuru; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ishmael Tomonialadieokuma, alongside directors and officials of both ministries.
The visit allowed the ministry to see the situation first-hand and assess its impact on the safety of our students and teachers, the school buildings, and teaching and learning.
Speaking during the tour, the education commissioner noted that “beyond the flooding itself, the teams are working to identify the root causes and examine the drainage, so that the solution is lasting not temporary.
“A detailed report is being prepared to guide immediate, medium and long-term action.
“Our commitment is clear: to restore a safe and conducive learning environment for the students of Community Secondary School, Rumuapara, and to protect the school from future flooding.”
