Schools Inspection, Monitoring Bill Moves To Committee Stage

A bill seeking to establish an agency for the inspection and monitoring of schools in Rivers State has been committed to the committee stage of  the House of Assembly.

The speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon. Otelemaba Amachree who directed the House’ standing committee on Education to fine-tune the bill, also urged them to organise public hearing and invite stakeholders to make necessary inputs that would enhance the benefits of the proposed law. The speaker also told the committee to ensure that all the gray areas identified at the second reading were addressed and gave the committee three weeks to report back to the House for further action.

The lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Hon Michael Okey Chinda, argued that the proposed seeks to go beyond public schools to certify private schools before admitting students to check standards.

Hon Chinda urged his colleagues not to undermine the bill because education is too important to be left in the hands of politicians and mediocre but the professional that would be in the agency will ensure that quality education is given to the students.

Others who supported the proposed law apart from the Leader, include Hon Augustine Ngo representing Abua/Odual and Chairman House Committee on Education, and Hon Victoria Nyeche representing Port Harcourt Constituency I. They noted that the need for proper inspection of schools would help to keep pace with the modern schools built by the present government.

The bill however, attracted opposition from Hon Victor Ihunwo representing Port Harcourt Constituency III, Hon Legborsi Nwidadah representing Khana Constituency I, Ibelema Okpokiri representing Okrika, Hon Ben Horsfall representing Asari Toru Constituency II and Hon Onari Brown Akuku Toru Constituency I.

In their separate submissions, the lawmakers described the proposed Agency as a duplication of function since an Inspectorate Division already exists in the Ministry of Education, positing that no law was needed for the ministry of education to perform like the commissioner is doing.

They further argued that duties will over lap and the efforts to check fiscal responsibility would be ridiculed by such law that would give room for corrupt tendencies.