The crusade for the eradication of illiteracy by 2015 by the Federal Ministry of Education appears to be enjoying the support of the citizenry. This is considering the degree of awareness for basic education even amongst the adults. Every effort is geared towards achieving the aims and objectives of mass literacy. Therefore, adequate infrastructural facilities ought to be provided to enhance adequate and appropriate teaching-learning process in the post-primary schools. But it is ironical that most of the existing post-primary schools in the state are socially, economically and culturally debased.

It is obvious that where there is lack of educational infrastructural materials, the facilitator of education or teachers would not perform white magic in order to render an effective and purposeful service delivery to the inquisitive and exuberant learners.

Without mincing words, most government owned post-primary institutions are in shambles with pupils sitting down on bare floor. More appalling is the fact that teachers that are administering these future educators do not equally have chairs and tables for their little comfort in the classrooms.

No wonder, one sees a lot of students of post-primary schools loitering within and outside the school premises only waiting for closing time. As the teachers are not adequately motivated, how would they impart adequate knowledge on the pupils and students? And one could imagine what product these post-primary students would become in future. 

For instance, the condition under which students of the Community Secondary School, Nkpolu in the municipality of Port Harcourt receive lectures is, to say the least, inhuman.

For proper education, infrastructural facilities and conducive learning atmosphere must be provided for both pupils and teachers. Proliferation of post-primary institutions in the state is meaningless without commensurate infrastructures that would enhance teaching and learning process. The post-primary schools should therefore be properly equipped to enhance good results at the end of the day.

The Rivers State Government, especially the State Ministry of Education should as a matter of urgency reverse this ugly trend where pupils and students sit on the floor to receive lectures. There is no doubt that the future of the state depends on how the younger generation is brought up. And proper formal education holds the key to the future of any society.

The efforts of the Rivers State government in the education sector is highly commendable. But it is important for the government to look more closely on the secondary school education. If it is possible to replicate what is happening in the primary school level on the secondary schools, the government should not hesitate to do so. Education is important, at every level but most important at the foundation levels, which includes the secondary school level.

Since the governor is determined to leave an indelible footprint on all parts of the state’s  economic and social development, it is important that secondary education sector is not left out. In fact, it should be among the top priority areas.

Also the obvious imbalance in the posting of teachers to schools in Port Harcourt and those in the rural areas must be corrected if we are to have balanced educational development.

A situation where schools in the urban areas such as Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor have a glint of teachers while those in the rural areas lack teachers even in many critical subject areas must not be allowed to continue.

Ominyanwa resides in Port Harcourt.

Goddy Ominyanwa