While members of Delta State Executive Council and State House of Assembly members are cruising in their brand new Prodo Jeeps amidst hunger and devastating economic hardship across the State, a trending video shows pupils of Asamana Primary School, Arhavwarien in Ughelli south local government area, sitting and lying down on the floor of their bare classroom to write and learn.
Despite the State Governor’s avowed commitment to ensuring that every citizen has access to quality and affordable education, the situation does not speak well of the MORE Agenda’s promised of “Improved educational system”.
In the video in circulation on social media, shows a combined class of primary one and two pupils, under unconducive learning environment in an oil-rich state like Delta.
This has further shown the deplorable state of some schools across the State and the value the political class place on the education of ordinary citizens as their children attends the most expensive schools in and outside the State and country.
It is apparent that politicians spare no cost on their comfort while the basic necessities for the governed are ignored.
It does appear however that the State Assembly, headed by Rt. Hon. Dennis Emomotimi Guwor, is interested in other matters, as some of the pupils are seen without school uniforms.
It is unbelievable that a public primary school in the State do not have furniture for students despite the huge allocation as it was gathered, it is a common feature in the school.
In the video, primary 1 and 2, have only two piece of furniture (desks), occupied perhaps by the strong pupils while the rest are seen sitting on bare floor to learn, maybe indicating the “survival of the fittest”, adage.
It was learnt that a class teacher, who do not want the name on print said that teaching in such environment was the most difficult thing any teacher could face.
Despite this unpleasant situation, the students said they are tasked to pay N550.00 for handwork.
The pupils who spoke in Urhobo language, said: “we have no chairs, only two chairs, are available in the class”.
According to the teacher, “If they sit on the bare floor, it becomes very difficult to control them because they are scattered. If there are enough seats, they will be arranged seat by seat.
*I will know how many pupils are on each seat. This will make it easier for me to know who is absent.” he said, adding that if there are sitting materials, it will be easier for them to write”, the teacher said.
Although Section 2 of the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, provides that state governments should make counterpart contributions to the Universal Basic Education Fund, they have failed or neglected to do so.
What the lawmakers should do is to ensure the state government make counterpart contribution to the Universal Basic Education Fund pursuant to Section 2 of the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, rather than live in flamboyance to the detriment of Deltans.
