May 27, (THEWILL) – The state of Primary and Secondary schools’ structures across the twenty-seven (27) Local Government Areas in Imo State is getting out of proportion. The buildings are decayed — in that, even the past administrations could not rehabilitate them.
Some communities had appealed to the State government to come to their aid by rebuilding their only educational institutions’ fallen structures, or alternatively building new ones for them so as to enable pupils to study in a serene and conducive environment. It is also worrisome that even the stakeholders in the rural areas appear to be unmoved by this ugly situation. Perhaps, those in the communities might not be finding life so easy to have rebuilt their schools, hence they cried out for assistance.
The schools in need of attention include the Umuozu Secondary School, Obollo Technical School, Amauzari Comprehensive Secondary School, Umueleke Umueze Secondary Commercial School, Osu Grammar School, Obiti High School, Umueze 2 Comprehensive School, amongst others.
Even though it is glaring that the Shared Prosperity government of Sen Hope Uzodinma since it came on board, has taken the bull by the horn to keep the education sector moving for the benefit of the Imo People.
In this regard, the Imo State Commissioner for Education, Professor Johncliff Nwadike, has blamed some communities for not reporting the deplorable conditions of their school structures at the time it started.
“If a roof is blown off; and a door is damaged, and perhaps, no one reports to the government, there is no way we can know about these and we blame the communities for negligence. Sometimes they do not open up to the government on their needs.
“If you go to the Ministries of Works and Housing, you will see files. Many communities were written to report the state of their schools to the government, but very few wrote, others failed to do so. We are attending to those we received their letters from.
“Government is on the verge of repairing these schools. Some villagers are not proactive. They are not doing what they are supposed to do. The schools that applied have started receiving attention. It is unfortunate that communities leave everything to the government.”
He said that the present shared prosperity of Sen Hope Uzodimma is not sleeping, urging them to get in touch with their wealthy sons and daughters to assist in rehabilitating the structures, as a way of giving back to their alma mater.
The Education Commissioner also noted that teachers have been promoted; and that they have no cause to worry, explaining that 5,000 primary school teachers are to be employed. ” We have an over-concentration of teachers in the urban area. The Ministry of Education is currently taking statistics of teachers in the State.
We are working on a way to ensure that those who reject postings to the rural areas are penalised. Government is not adamant. Many Communities do not take care of facilities in their domain. Schools should reach out to their old Boys and Girls to ensure that the schools that produced them are taken care of. The salaries of Imo teachers have been very regular. At one stage, teachers’ salaries were low, but they are enjoying it under the present administration of Governor Hope Uzodinma.
Prof Nwadike continued, “Over 95 percent of the prospective teachers will be posted to their villages. There will be mass transfer soon. That is the government game plan”, he explained.
Not only this, but the university Don also frowned at a situation wherein certainly people encroached into the schools’ farmlands, pulling out window frames, zinc and other carts away from other properties that belong to the schools.
Sadly, the decayed state of these buildings can be said to have deteriorated, despite the efforts being made to recover these structures. The problem appears to be an inherited issue by the Uzodinma government.
Stakeholders in various communities, Old boys and Girls of the affected schools, the government including good-spirited individuals, and groups, should intervene in these challenges because schools are communal symbols these rural areas are known for.
