Declare state of emergency on education, Rivers teachers urge Fubara

The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State governor, to declare a state of emergency in public education.

The condition of public schools in rural and urban areas has continued to generate concern among citizens with the state House of Assembly initiating the call, last year, for a state of Emergency to be declared on the sector.

Last week, the dismal state of Ubie Community Secondary School, Odiokwu, in Ahoada West Local Government gained national and international attention following the intervention of Winnie Miller, an indigene, and Verydarkman (VDM), social activist.

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Sam Donatus, state chairman of the NUT, in an interview in Port Harcourt on Monday, said the call for an emergency became necessary given the deplorable condition of schools in the state.

The condition of public schools in the state has been described by various persons and groups as “deplorable, with collapsed roofs, no desks or chairs, overcrowded classrooms, and lack of basic facilities such as toilets, water, and electricity.”

Donatus listed inadequate number of teachers per students as one of the factors militating against public education, adding that the situation has reduced student population in public schools, forcing most of them to enroll in private schools.

He urged Governor Fubara “to urgently fulfill the promise of employing 5,000 teachers. I plead with the state government. They made the pronouncement to employ teachers. Up till now, nothing has been done. Let them back their words with action.

“If you go to some schools, you have only one teacher taking primary one to three. So I beg our governments to sit up. The situation is not good at all. That’s why private schools are striving in the state, gaining more students over government schools,” he said.

The NUT chairman urged state House of Assembly and National Assembly members representing Rivers constituencies to prioritize issues relating to education as part of their legislative duties.

“I don’t know whether it’s applicable only to Rivers. I have not really seen any tangible thing these Assembly members are doing in their constituencies. They are supposed to carry out projects that people will see and accept that they have representatives,” he said.

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Donatus noted that the responsibility to enhance education in the state and communities lies with every citizen. He decried a situation where citizens sit back and watch while schools in the community suffer.

He commended Governor Fubara for the prompt payment of teachers’ salaries, while urging him to give similar attention to the payment of retirees’ gratuity.