Principals of Secondary Schools in Rivers State have called
for a return of boarding system in secondary schools.

The Chairman, All Nigerian Conference of Principals of
Secondary Schools, (ANCOPSS), Rivers Chapter, Dr. Augusta Fubara, made the call
in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

She spoke at a one- day Public Hearing on the Rivers State
Education Quality Assurance Agency Bill, 2012.

The  bill, which seeks
to establish the Rivers State Education Quality Assurance Agency, has been
undergoing various legislative processes in the state House of Assembly.

Fubara said that part of the factors responsible for the
falling standard of education in the society was the dearth of boarding system
in secondary schools.

She called on the government to re-introduce the boarding
system in secondary schools to revive the reading culture of students for
greater productivity.

The ANCOPSS chairman said that lack of adequate control of
students by teachers as a result of the dearth of boarding system had affected
the behavioural pattern of students in schools.

Fubara said that inadequate supervision and control of
students by teachers and school authorities as a result of lack of boarding
system in schools was also responsible for the falling standard of education.

She called for a return to the boarding system in secondary
schools so that teachers and other relevant authorities could have enough time
to supervise and control students to perform better.

Fubara said that when students left schools by 2 p.m. and on
getting home, they were sent out to hawk plantains, pepper, leaves and bananas,
“when would they have time to read their books at home?

She said if the boarding system was in place and students
were always in school, teachers and other relevant authorities would exercise
proper and adequate control over them to perform better.