School administrators in most rural communities in Etche and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of Rivers State are now battling with the influx of pupils and students into public primary and secondary schools in the state.

This is as a result of the assumption of duties by the 13,000 teachers recently recruited by the Rivers State Government.

The Tide investigation revealed that parents were withdrawing some of their children and wards from  private schools to public schools because of the assumption of duties by new teachers in public schools.

Charles Amakalam, a parent told The Tide that he has one of his children in one of the public primary schools in Obio/Akpor while two were in private school but  when last two weeks, his child in the public primary school returned home with 10 quality textbooks given to him by the school free of charge, the other two were attracted.

“So when I considered the free textbooks, beautiful school structures which make learning conducive and the recruitment of teachers, I and my wife felt we have no need to send them to private schools where we pay exorbitantly,” said Amakalam.

Another parent, Christie Epele, a mother of two complained that she took one of her children to register him in one of the public schools in Obio/Akpor but was told that there was no space left in the class he was due to be registered.

Mr Mike Onyegbule who spoke to The Tide at Okehi said “we had only four tuitors in GSS, Okehi before, but with the posting of over 20 more teachers to the school,  we now have more teachers to teach our children in the school”.

Onyegbule lauded the governor for the bold step and expressed hope that the new turn of event would be sustained.

At Community Primary School, Mba, also in Etche Local Government Area, another parent, Mr Cletus Chimamkpa told The Tide that  they were discouraged to send their wards to public schools in the past because of lack of teachers but now “we can see teachers everywhere”.

He said,” I have withdrawn  one of my children from the  private school because of the new teachers and free books. The present administration in the state has shown enough seriousness and I have no need to send my children to the private schools when the public schools are better.”

A student who pleaded anonymity told The Tide at G.S.S., Eneka, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area that she had a message for governor of Rivers State, “Please help me tell the governor that we are grateful to  what he has done to the public schools in the state. He has provided us with quality school buildings, quality free text books, new quality teachers and free education.”

A teacher in one of the private schools who pleaded that her name should not be mentioned said “most of the parents have withdrawn their children and wards from our schools for the public schools.”