Babbe Kingdom in Khana Local Government
Area (Khalga) of Rivers State, Government Secondary School (GSS), Luawii, is one of the foremost famous and outstanding secondary schools established and owned by the government.
One could always remember the central and leading role the school used to exhibit in terms of sports, quiz competitions drama and notably in every facet of secondary (call it junior secondary now) schools activities. It was more or less the fulcrum on which social and almost every academic activity was revolving in those good old days.
It is crystal clear that the feat and dominating roles of the school was predominantly made possible because of the availability of relevant structures. Such structures as adequate and conducive classrooms, dormitories for boarding students, staff rooms and offices, principal/staff quarters, sport facilities and many more vividly and structurally available. Academic excellence and proficiency were easily and steadily achieved in all ramifications.
It is absolutely disheartening that the once glorious G.S.S Luawii, whose name echoed through the thick walls of secondary schools and soared like the eagle in the state has deteriorated and wrecked like the ill-fated titanic ship. The elegant mostly storey-buildings structures that greet the eyes of visitors and captivated the mind of students for enrollment has dilapidated beyond recognition. Everything has gone sour and felt apart. But ,the irony of the whole situation is that the school is still on-goinq and the learning process not hampered. Right now, the only noticeable change in the learning process only occurred in the new policy of 6-3-3-4 system that bars the UBE section (junior secondary) from the senior secondary though under a singular roof.
So the aching question is why the neglect by the state government, ministry of education or relevant agencies on infrastructural development when learning still goes on in the school? Is it only to admit and register students for the various exams that are important than fixing the structures that are already decayed? Conducive environment which is galvanized by adequate facilities, size of students, number of staff (academic/non academic) and quality deposition of academic staff are all factors and denominators of learning. Greater premium must be attached to these by policy makers and administrators of education to achieve the much talked about educational excellence.
In as much as we commend and applaud the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on his giant strides in educational development, we also frown at the culture of non-continuity in our government policies. If our successive adminsitrators had taken seriously the policy of continuity, the poor maintenance culture and abandoned projects that are littered all over the state and country would have reduced drastically. Every new administrator is always thinking about starting something new even at the face of millions of uncompleted projects or unfulfilled policies. This is wastage of resources and duplication of policies. It is unhealthy for our economy. Rather than concentrate solely on building modern schools, government should have renovated the already existing high-class or standard schools save and save cost that could be used on other developmental purposes. The idea of domolition and rebuilding of structures in schools every year need to be reviewed.
The ugly situation at G.S.S Luawii is replicated in every school of this caliber in Khana local government area and Rivers Stcte in general. For instance/such schools as G.S.S Kaa, Taabaa, Birabii Memorial Grammar School (BMGS) etc, are no less than what we are talking about. There are schools with immeasurable qualities and standard that ought not to be abandoned. Sadly however, past adminsitrators have continued to embark upon frivolous projects that do not have direct bearing on the people.         .
As it is, we, the good people of Luawii community, the students and the entire community of G.S.S Luawii, are hereby appealing to the state government to make good it’s words by looking into the pathetic situation of these beautiful schools. It is the constitutional responsibility of every government to provide amenities for its citizens. But this provision must be in consonance with what the people want mostly and which would be of immense benefit to them.

Tordee, a social commentator and public affairs analyst, resides in Port Harcourt .

Manson B. Tordee