The Delta State Universal Basic Education Board SUBEB, has promised to pay more attention to teaching, learning and infrastructural development in public primary schools in the riverine communities of the state.
Executive Chairman Subeb, Delta State, Hon Samuel Mariere made the promise when he led other members of the board to Burutu local government area in continuation of the board’s advocacy meeting with stakeholders in public primary school education in the state.
The Subeb Chairman stated that the advocacy visit was strategic as it again avoided the board the opportunity to inform the public about the unrelenting efforts by the state government to improve standards in public primary institutions in the state as encapsulated in the MORE agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Hon Mariere said statistics from the federal government indicated that riverine communities in the state has the highest numbers of out of school children.
He recalled that Delta State was rated number ten position of low enrollment and out of school children in the country, emphasizing that the bulk of the challenge was from riverine communities.
Hon Mariere noted that the state governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is worried with the poor state of primary school education in the state, hence the need to revamped the system towards changing the narratives.
The Subeb Boss assured the Chairman Burutu local government council, Hon Julius Takeme of the state government’s resolve to reopen close community primary schools in the locality.
Mariere, a former Commissioner for Water Resources Development and two terms member of the Delta State Assembly, emphasized that public primary education in the state is free and called on parents, especially those in the riverine area to take advantage of government funding to give their children and wards better future.
He warned Union Leaders against indiscipline and insubordination against the Local Education Secretary, saying that the board frown at such ugly acts.
The SUBEB Chairman directed that unapproved transfer of Head Teachers should stopped forthwith, even as he informed stakeholders that all previous transfer that did not follow due process would be reversed.
Mariere enjoined the Local Education Secretary and the Head Teachers to be committed to the vision of the Governor to returned public primary schools to its good glorious old days.
Chairman, Burutu local government council, Chief Julius Takeme commended Hon Mariere and his team for the zeal to drive government reforms in public primary education system.
He said the council was ready to support the reforms, while appealing to SUBEB to establish new schools in the area as well as renovation of dilapidated structures and reopening of closed community primary schools.
The Secretary Burutu Local Education Authority, Comrade Rufus Esrifa, also commended the Subeb officials for engaging stakeholders in the public primary education, adding that the benefits are enormous and obvious to see.
He appealed to the board to help address the issue of good office accommodation, lack of speed boats for monitoring, distractions from NUT leaders and contact resisting of transfer by teachers.
Other stakeholders, including SBMC members and community leaders who spoke assured of their commitment to join forces with government to transform the education system at the primary level.