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| Healing Hands Inc Program Manager, Charles Okwa visiting Okotie-Eboh Primary School 1 Sapele |
Back Breaking is indeed to be adduced from his recent statement: "there are 1,125 public primary schools and 465 public secondary schools in Delta State, it is not humanly possible to address the infrastructural needs of all the school at the same time, pointing out that “what we do is to attend to them (the schools) in phases.”
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| 7-year-old Success Adegor |
It was alleged that Miss Adegor was sent home from school for not being able to pay the N900 ($2.50) exam fee that her school authorities prescribed. A neighbor recorded Miss Success as she expressed displeasure at the decision of her teacher to send pupils home who had not paid their exam levy. The rest they say is history.
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| Forsaken Classroom |
The interview went viral and has given that school an uncommon visibility. It has also brought the Delta State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education under great scrutiny. The physical state of the building is alarming and speaks of abandonment, extreme poverty, deprivation and gross neglect.
I decided to learn more about the mission statement and modus operandi of the ministry by logging to the official website: https://basicedu.deltastate.gov.ng/
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| Screenshot from the ministry's website |
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| Classroom turned toilet |
Voila! The first word that caught my attention was ONEROUS. The Hon Commissioner stated that the "Ministry is charged with the onerous responsibility of formulating, implementing and regulating educational policies and programmes for the State"
Onerous means burdensome, oppressive, or troublesome; causing hardship. It also means stressful, wearisome, fatiguing, inconvenient, troublesome, awkward, crushing and back-breaking. In legal usage, onerous describes a contract or lease that has more obligations than advantages.
In the words of Gloria Ogo:
But that one brave teacher who made a tour of the school. Who cried out for the poor kids in her school. Who exposed the plight of the school – a death trap waiting to happen.
She is the true hero of the story.
May we honour her. May we never forget the bravery of that one teacher who loved her students so that she risked her job to cry for them. Speak for them.
Let her not be forgotten.
Let history always honour her.
Let us make sure she is all right and not punished for doing what was right.
Together, let us stand for her and with her.
Nigerians, let us be her voice.
#RewardBraveryNotPunish
Onerous means burdensome, oppressive, or troublesome; causing hardship. It also means stressful, wearisome, fatiguing, inconvenient, troublesome, awkward, crushing and back-breaking. In legal usage, onerous describes a contract or lease that has more obligations than advantages.
I am not sure which of the meanings he was referring to.
Back Breaking is indeed to be adduced from his recent statement: "there are 1,125 public primary schools and 465 public secondary schools in Delta State, it is not humanly possible to address the infrastructural needs of all the school at the same time, pointing out that “what we do is to attend to them (the schools) in phases.”
Infrastructural degradation in public schools is a perennial problem. Effective leaders form coalitions of relevant stakeholders and make strategic plans. A review of the free education campaign promise should be undertaken. Is it sustainable? NGO's are willing to help.
In our local parlance, the Hon Commissioner's body language and website mandate can be interpreted thus (emphasis mine) : " this commissioner work pass my power abeg"
However, in what seemed like a face saving measure, a scapegoat was found. The Head Teacher.
“It therefore means that the Head Teacher of the School had no right to impose any levy or fees on the pupils of her School. In my brief encounter with the Head Teacher this morning, there appeared to be numerous inconsistencies in her response on this issue as she was unable to categorically state who authorized her to impose the levies or fees which is in clear breach of the extant rules.
“Consequently I have directed the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to suspend the Head Teacher pending the outcome of a formal enquiry into the issue of unauthorized levies/and fees imposed by her in the School”
The Executive Governor in the wake of the scandal also washed his hands-free.
Through his Chief Press Secretary, the Governor quickly absolved his administration of any wrong. He claimed it was wrong to have put the blame on the shoulders of the Delta State Government as public schools in Delta State are completely free from tuition fees.
He added that they had watched the video and read several comments on the matter where mischief makers tried to put culpability on the State Government.
It is clear that the Governor and his Commissioner believe that they have done due diligence in the appropriation of funds available to oil-rich Delta State as it relates to education. This singular case proves otherwise.
All eyes are now on all Delta State public schools, health facilities and utilities. The Ministry of Education should be proactive. Your good works will be praised. Your dilapidated structures will deliver shame and embarrassment.
The leadership capabilities of the Executive Governor is on trial. If officers need to be reassigned for the betterment of the citizenry and for a more effective government, then let the needful be done.
Back Breaking is indeed to be adduced from his recent statement: "there are 1,125 public primary schools and 465 public secondary schools in Delta State, it is not humanly possible to address the infrastructural needs of all the school at the same time, pointing out that “what we do is to attend to them (the schools) in phases.”
Infrastructural degradation in public schools is a perennial problem. Effective leaders form coalitions of relevant stakeholders and make strategic plans. A review of the free education campaign promise should be undertaken. Is it sustainable? NGO's are willing to help.
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| A teacher at the school |
However, in what seemed like a face saving measure, a scapegoat was found. The Head Teacher.
The Commissioner Declared:
“By virtue of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act, Education at the Basic Education Level is FREE. However in Delta State that provision is also extended to Senior Secondary Level with the resultant effect being that Basic and Secondary Education (primary, junior and secondary) in Delta State is and still remains FREE.
“It therefore means that the Head Teacher of the School had no right to impose any levy or fees on the pupils of her School. In my brief encounter with the Head Teacher this morning, there appeared to be numerous inconsistencies in her response on this issue as she was unable to categorically state who authorized her to impose the levies or fees which is in clear breach of the extant rules.
“Consequently I have directed the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to suspend the Head Teacher pending the outcome of a formal enquiry into the issue of unauthorized levies/and fees imposed by her in the School”
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| Commissioner Chiedu Ebie |
The Executive Governor in the wake of the scandal also washed his hands-free.
Through his Chief Press Secretary, the Governor quickly absolved his administration of any wrong. He claimed it was wrong to have put the blame on the shoulders of the Delta State Government as public schools in Delta State are completely free from tuition fees.
He added that they had watched the video and read several comments on the matter where mischief makers tried to put culpability on the State Government.
It is clear that the Governor and his Commissioner believe that they have done due diligence in the appropriation of funds available to oil-rich Delta State as it relates to education. This singular case proves otherwise.
All eyes are now on all Delta State public schools, health facilities and utilities. The Ministry of Education should be proactive. Your good works will be praised. Your dilapidated structures will deliver shame and embarrassment.
The leadership capabilities of the Executive Governor is on trial. If officers need to be reassigned for the betterment of the citizenry and for a more effective government, then let the needful be done.
In the words of Gloria Ogo:
But that one brave teacher who made a tour of the school. Who cried out for the poor kids in her school. Who exposed the plight of the school – a death trap waiting to happen.
She is the true hero of the story.
May we honour her. May we never forget the bravery of that one teacher who loved her students so that she risked her job to cry for them. Speak for them.
Let her not be forgotten.
Let history always honour her.
Let us make sure she is all right and not punished for doing what was right.
Together, let us stand for her and with her.
Nigerians, let us be her voice.
#RewardBraveryNotPunish
#donotmakeheadteacherscapegoat
Finally it is quite interesting to know that MasterCare International School Asaba was founded by Dcns Roli Nere Uduaghan the wife of the former Governor of Delta State. She claims her dream was predicated by her passion and zeal to give back to the people of Delta State after serving the State for 8 years as the First Lady.
Finally it is quite interesting to know that MasterCare International School Asaba was founded by Dcns Roli Nere Uduaghan the wife of the former Governor of Delta State. She claims her dream was predicated by her passion and zeal to give back to the people of Delta State after serving the State for 8 years as the First Lady.
Miss Success Adegor would do well in that school if you ask my opinion!
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| Students at a school owned by the wife of the former Gov of Delta State |
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| Students at a school owned by the wife of the former Governor of Delta State |
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| Students at a school owned by the wife of the former Governor of Delta State |
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| Miss Success Adegor with Gloria Ekedum, a writer that gave details to this story |
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| A near collapse structure at the school |
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The problem of levies in government owned schools is not in Delta state alone,same is happening in govt public schools in Rivers state . Students are being sent away from school for fees ranging from exams to sanitation fees . I don't know why they termed it free education while students are to made to pay between 2000 to 5000 for sme things
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