L-R: Governor Emmanuel
Uduaghan; Commissioner
for Economic Planning,
Bernard Okumagba; and
Education Commissioner,
Mrs. Elizabeth Uvoh-Gardner;
at the Delta Education Summit.
Faced with the sordid reality of the state of education in Delta, the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has moved to reinvent the sub-sector, writes SOLA ADEBAYO.
THE standard of education in Delta State, just like in other states in the country, has witnessed a downward trend over the years. The declining fortune of the education sub-sector in the state was accentuated by the continuous increase in enrolment figures, which were not matched by the requisite provision of infrastructure by past administrations.
The statistics provided by the state Ministry of Education put the number of primary schools at 1,171 and number of pupils at 391,489. Although the number of classrooms required for quality learning at the formative level was put at 13,050, only 4,601 were in good condition. The ministry, in the report compiled by the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Elizabeth Uvoh-Gardner, said 84,895 desks were available for pupils at the primary school, whereas 195,745 desks would be required.
The report identified 762 secondary schools in the state with 203,981 students. Half of the 6,796 classrooms required by the students were in a good condition. The results further showed an inadequate number of teachers in the primary schools and technical colleges, except the Warri North Local Government Area, where the teacher/pupils ratio was put at 1:73.
Although Uvwoh-Gardner, in the painstaking report, admitted that teachers in both junior and secondary schools were inadequate, she added that the deficit was pronounced in some subjects like English Language, Mathematics, Introductory Technology and French.
She said, ”In the rural and riverside areas, the number of teachers is grossly inadequate, whereas the opposite is the case for schools in the urban centres. Most teachers are not conversant with recent advances in both subjects matter and methods of teaching. Teachers are promoted en-masse after three years regardless of performance.”
The worsening state of the education sub-sector in the state, especially the pathetic condition of infrastructure in the public schools, apparently informed the decision of the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to convene a stakeholders‘ summit in Asaba, the state capital, on June 23. Notable elders and leaders of the state, as well as stakeholders, particularly renowned academia, Nigerian Union of Teachers, Parents/Teachers Association, Nigeria Labour Congress, Academic Staff Union of Universities, non-governmental organisations and traditional rulers, were invited to proffer ideas and suggestions to revamp the ailing sector.
Uvwoh-Gardner set the pace for the summit in a meticulously prepared paper which painted a depressing picture of the state of educational system, particularly the unenviable standard of basic amenities in the government-owned schools. She arrested the attention and interests of the stakeholders with her lucid presentation of facts and figures on the state of affairs in the ministry. Her sound knowledge and conclusions on teaching and learning conditions, especially the unfettered presentation of the infrastructural decay and teaching in schools drew applause from the stakeholders. She buttressed her assertions on the state of infrastructural facilities in the schools with video clips and slides, as well as photographs.
Uduaghan, who moderated the summit, was moved to tears as he narrated how pupils in some primary schools in the state sit on bare floors in their classrooms. He recited how an unnamed government official, who visited a primary school in the Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state, could not direct the pupils to be seated after the usual salutation because there were no benches in the classroom. He expressed his preparedness to put an end to the ugly trend.
Various speakers commended the initiative and efforts of the governor in the education sector, adding that he had demonstrated serious commitment to right the wrongs of the past administrations, which they condemned for not paying adequate attention to the sector. Uduaghan was specifically applauded for his efforts in rehabilitating all abandoned public schools in the coastal areas of the state. They said his sincere intention to improve the standard of education informed the setting aside of 21 per cent of the budget to the sector.
The speakers, including two octogenarians, Chairman of PTA in the state, Chief Martin Nwoko; and the monarch of Olomu; a retired inspector of education and a PhD holder, the Orodje of Okpe; a retired major general, two former Commissioners for Education in the state, Prof. Abednego Ekoko and Prof. B.I.C. Ijeoma; the Chairman of Delta State Council of NLC, Mr. Mike Okeme; the state Chairman of NUT, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Delta State University, Abraka, Prof. Otete Okobia; and the Secretary of the Delta State Advisory Council and the Coordinator of Coastal Women Forum, Miss Deborah Laju Edah; among other stakeholders, made useful contributions towards advancing the education sector in the state.
Okeme described the summit as “first of its kind in the whole federation and we are asking other governors and President Umaru Yar‘Adua, to emulate this wonderful initiative. We (NLC) will assist your government to reach your destination because of your sincerity of purpose and clear cut vision to bestow a lasting legacy in all facets of life.”
They were, however, unanimous on the compelling need to maintain and upgrade the infrastructure and monitoring of the activities of the teachers and pupils in the schools. They also asked the government to properly supervise the jobs given to contractors to ensure quality services, adding that punitive measures be meted out to government officials, who authorised payment for shoddy and poorly executed jobs.
”We have our roadmap; some of them have been presented by the Commissioner for Education. As a government, we need to interact with all stakeholders in order to add their views to what we are doing. We may call a few of you thereafter to look at some issues for a long term planning but we have immediate strategies towards the development of education on a short term basis,” Uduaghan said.
Although Uduaghan said the current funding of education in the state was slightly lower than the UNESCO recommendation of 26 per cent of the total state budget, he said the 21 per cent of the 2008 budget earmarked for the education sector was the highest in the country. The governor hoped to do more with improved funds available to the government.
The governor informed the forum that his administration had awarded contacts worth N883m for the rehabilitation of the abandoned and dilapidated schools in the coastal areas of the state, adding that the schools, kitted with modern equipment, would be ready for use at the beginning of the new academic calendar in September.
He said select schools in the 25 local government areas of the state would be comprehensively rehabilitated before the next academic session, adding that benches and other items required for quality education would be provided.
Uduaghan said, ”Between now and September, every local government will have a brand new vehicle and even boats for the riverside areas as part of the strategies to strengthen our inspectorate division of the ministry of education. The inspectors should take their jobs seriously. In addition to that, we are going to involve the community in the management of our schools. We are going to appoint credible leaders to mentor our schools.
“To this end, school mentoring committee headed by powerful Deltans from the various communities will be put in place. In the Ekiugo area in Ughelli, for instance, we have appointed one of our respected leaders, Dr. Gamaliel Onosode, to mentor schools in the area, although I have not formally told him, yet I know that he would accept the appointment. The traditional rulers too will mentor schools in their domains, the activities of teachers and students as well as pupils will be allocated to them to mentor. Well- meaning individuals, including commissioners, professors, lecturers, will be encouraged to mentor schools in their communities.
”First, on building, we are going to take some schools and do them very well as a starting point. I will take a school and do total reconstruction and provide basic items, including benches and desks. We are also going to provide new buildings for our teachers in the rural communities. In giving out our buildings in the coastal communities, we are going to give priority to teachers posted to those areas.”
On the poor service delivery by contractors, Uduaghan said, ”Our contractors must take the contacts given to them seriously because there is no free money in this state. We are going to strengthen our supervision. We may also use private people to get better quality for the job we are doing. It is not going to be contract for the boys. The contacts would only be given to contractors with proven capability under this dispensation because we must get value for the tax payers‘ money. We are not going to accept benches that will break down before they get to the schools.”
Uduaghan, however, offered advice to parents, adding that the success of their children in their educational career rests sufficiently on their ability to get involved and supervise them on a daily basis.
”We need to be involved in the education of our children, especially parents with manageable number of children. Please take interest in the education of your children. It is not just enough to pay school fees and give them driver to go to school, it is much more that. Look at their books and do their assignments with them everyday. I do that with my children despite my commitments.”
”If the funding improves, we (government) shall also improve on our performance.”
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ifeanyi Okonwa, in his closing remarks, said the state government would implement the road map faithfully, adding that the stakeholders would always be consulted to make regular input into governance.
Okonwa said Uduaghan administration as a representative government would continue to open its doors to suggestions and wise counseling to move the state forward.
The stakeholders departed the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, the venue of the summit, hoping for a new dawn in the education sub-sector of the state.
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