It is scandalously nauseating that in 2024, the Delta State government despite its oil wealth is incapable of providing conducive learning environment for pupils in primary school.
Last week, the news that gained currency was that primary school pupils were sitting on bare floor. The place is Asamana Primary school, Arhavwarien in Ughelli. South LGA.
Even in that dusty classroom, primary one and two classes were combined. It demonstrates shortage of teachers and the disregard for section 2 of the Compulsory Free Basic Education Act.
Since the sad story surfaced, no official of state government has spoken. Even equally offensive is the deafening silence of the legislator representing Ughelli South state constituency.
This is the stripe of leaders who plague the oil rich state who are more enarmoured with primitive accumulation of wealth for self, family and cronies.
We are aware of huge budgetary allocation for education. The federal government through Universal Basic Education Fund provides money for upgrading of teaching and learning facilities in the primary schools. We are constrained to ask about the usage of such funds in Delta State. Something is certainly not tidy in the management of the education funds.
The Asamana Primary school may be a tip of the iceberg. For a state with four Universities, scores of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, it is the greatest and outlandish shame that her primary schools are in state of neglect, decay and rot. And that is the most plausible reason for the flourishing of private primary schools.
The reality on the ground is that most government secondary and primary schools are in state of ruins.
Primary school is the foundation of the educational progress of the child. Any neglect at this stage will have permanent damage on the child. Not every Deltan is so financially endowed to send his children to private primary school.
The Ughelli shame is the greatest dent on the MORE agenda of the government. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori should walk the talk by restoring the lost glory of our primary schools. This is the minimum democratic dividends, the people of Delta State demand of the governor and the much touted ‘Ukodo’.
