The Rivers State Government has restated its determination to ensure free and compulsory qualitative education in all public schools in the state.

Making the declaration last Thursday at the first quarterly meting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) management with executive chairman of State Universal Basic Education Boards in Port Harcourt, the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi emphasized that “we have the will to do it, and we will continue to do it, God being our helper.”

Amaechi, who was represented by Barrister Osima Ginah, the state commissioner for Urban Development, noted that steps have been taken to ensure the success of the free education projects in the state.

He recalled that towards this end, the sum of N70 billion was appropriated to education in the 2010 approved budget in addition to the construction of child-friendly schools spread across the state in order to provide the best facilities for all.

“We believe that the children of the poor and those in the rural areas also deserve the good things of life,” he said.

According to the Governor, these and other notable steps were taken on the realisation that the education sector was almost moribund.

“On assumption of office in October 2007, my administration was faced with stark reality of a comatose education sector. Infrastructure were degenerating, while the morale of teachers and education managers was at its lowest ebb.

“Instructional materials could at best be described as scarce commodities as teachers unconsciously levied pupils and students to raise funds for the procurement of these needed materials for teaching and learning,” the Governor said.

Consequently, “we quickly realised that if growth and advancement of the state would be achieved, the citizenry must be properly educated as this will also liberate them from the shackles of poverty.”

So far, the governor explained that “all hindrances to the acquisition of education have been removed with the construction of model primary/secondary school fitted and equipped with modern world class facilities.”

In his opening speech, the executive secretary, UBEC, Dr Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed eulogised the state government in the provision of quality infrastructure and equipment of such schools, saying that Rivers State has set the pace for quality education in the country.

He explained that the essence of the quarterly meeting of UBEC management with SUBEB chairman has been to constantly review progress in basic education delivery in order to keep abreast with the UBE mandate.

Earlier in his welcome address, the executive chairman of RSUBEB, Dr Orutemeka, enumerated what the board had been doing towards the fulfillment of quality education in the state.

According to him, “on the part of the board, we have intensified monitoring and evaluation of teaching and learning, restructure and merged schools for greater efficiency, carried out needs based training programmes for both teaching and non-teaching staff, provided teaching aids and consumables in schools, executed achievement tests for pupils, and maintained good relations with our various publics, including the UBEC, Abuja.