Apart from dearth of facilities and teachers, reptiles, such as snakes and scorpions, are regular companions in many schools in Bayelsa State,SIMON UTEBORreports
Some secondary schools in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, are still in deplorable state, leaving people wondering if the state of emergency declared in education in the state is sincere.
From the Community Secondary School, Swali; Azikoro Senior Secondary School, Ekeki, to the Demonstration Secondary School, Ekeki, among many others, it is a tale of dilapidation and decay. The schools are not just in a deplorable shape, their pupils study without desks, chairs, and laboratories. Besides, unkempt environment seems to be a common feature in the schools.
Our correspondent gathered that many of the schools have overcrowded classes, a feature that makes teaching a cumbersome experience for their teachers.
Indeed, many of the pupils, who spoke to our correspondent, lamented that even the few teachers they have do not show enough enthusiasm for their job. According to the pupils, many of their teachers not only engage in trading, they also leave their responsibilities to corps members posted the schools.
A pupil of the Community Secondary School, Swali, who gave his name as John (surname withheld), particularly frowned on their teachers’ attitude to work.
He said, “The level of commitment of some teachers is very low and they exhibit high level of nonchalance and indifference to their responsibilities. Some of them do not like teaching; they leave everything to corps members and do not even monitor their activities.
Dilapidated roof at the Community Secondary School, Swali.
“As for facilities, my school is lagging behind in terms of having the right environment that will enable us to achieve much academically.”
The school, he also said, lacked enough furniture such as chairs and tables, saying many pupils usually sit on bare floor to learn.
The pupil added, “We neither have laboratories nor library. Recently, the computer department was provided but we cannot make use of it because we lack power supply in the school. We also do not enjoy any recreational facilities such as playing fields and a volleyball court. We improvise by making use of available spaces for our sporting activities.
“Besides, my school is not habitable, as we have bushes surrounding us and inside these bushes are dangerous reptiles such as snakes and scorpions. There have been occasions when some pupils were bitten by those reptiles.”
A teacher in the school, who did not want his name mentioned, said there was need to build a bigger staff room for the teachers.
According to him, there are no provisions for some teachers in the staff room, resulting in many of them gadding about when they are supposed to be preparing for their lectures.
He also called on the authorities to provide more buildings, electricity, tables, chairs as well as equipped library and laboratories, noting that these facilities aid in teaching and learning.
A visit to Azikoro Senior Secondary School, Ekeki, revealed that though the school buildings look new, its pupils said their laboratories and library lack basic amenities and books.
However, the situation is different at the junior arm of the school, where the pupils face problems of inadequate classrooms and furniture.
A pupil, who identified herself simply as Judith, also noted that the commitment of their teachers was unimpressive.
She said, “I believe that the lack of commitment on the part of some teachers is because there are no drastic measures put in place by the authorities to bring discipline to bear on their activities.
“Yes, we don’t have enough teachers in the school, as many of our teachers usually complain of huge workload. I am urging the state government to employ more teachers so that the complaint will reduce. If the government engages more teachers, they will be more willing to impart knowledge to us.
“Also, we do not have any recreational facilities. The environment is good, but the school is not fenced and this brings about insecurity and indiscipline. Because of the development, people of questionable characters gain access to the school. The situation has led to the menace of criminal activities, such as armed robbery and cultism; and they pose great danger to corps members who reside in the school.”
To check such activities, she urged the government to ensure proper surveillance of the school and its environs.
At the Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education (Demonstration Secondary School), Ekeki, the pupils also decried the state of facilities in the school.
According to the pupils, the acute shortage of classrooms has resulted in running two sessions in the school.
A pupil, Josephine, urged the government to build more classrooms so that the idea of having two daily sessions in the school would end.
The young girl said she was always ashamed to tell people that she was attending afternoon school.
She added, “The classrooms are not adequate. Even the available ones are not conducive. We share classrooms with the primary section; that is why we at the senior section resume school around 12:30p.m and close by 4:30p.m.
“The school authorities resorted to two sessions because of inadequate classrooms and facilities. The authorities introduced the afternoon session for those of us in the senior secondary school and I must tell you that the development has really affected our learning.
“Also, I want the government to build more classrooms or structures that will be used for library and staff rooms. Currently, we only have one staff room in our senior secondary section and none in the junior secondary section.”
Efforts to get the reaction of the state Commissioner for Education, Mr. Dein Benedourmene, were futile, as his telephone rang out several times. He also did not respond to a text message sent to his mobile telephone as of 8pm press time on Thursday.
