The Executive Chairman, Delta State Universal Education Board (SUBEB), Hon Samuel Mariere has expressed commitment to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s vision to place Delta in the number one position of states with the highest school enrollment and reduction of out-of-school children in the federation.
Hon Mariere made this known during his advocacy stakeholders’ meeting in Bomadi and Patani Local Government Areas, in continuation of Subeb tour of the 25 local government areas of the state.
The SUBEB Boss, who lauded Governor Oborevwori for the approval of over N3.5 billion for the 2024 SUBEB budget, said public primary schools in the state should be the first option for parents to enrol their wards before considering private schools.
He reemphasized that public primary schools in the state boast of the best infrastructures for teaching and learning with extracurricular activities, including the best-qualified teachers with appropriate teaching certificates in NCE and degrees in education.
Mariere called on all stakeholders; head teachers, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to collaborate with the state government to drive massive enlightenment campaigns to the doorsteps of parents in the locality to enrol their wards by September.
The former Lawmaker who was also a Commissioner in the state, appealed to the local government council’s chairmen of Bomadi and Patani, respectively to collaborate with the state government to produce exercise notebooks, amounting to 1.5million copies for distribution to pupils in public primary schools.
Hon Mariere said it was the collective efforts and duties of all to produce the best students with high standards and quality education to become great future leaders of tomorrow.
He challenged the local Government Education Secretaries, head teachers, traditional rulers, community leaders, parents and other stakeholders to inculcate morals in the children as it was the responsibility of all, not the teachers alone, adding that it was a shame that most of the girl-children walk the streets dressed improperly and the boys carrying dreadlocks.
Mariere warned Head teachers not to extort money from the pupils with the excuse to print examination question papers, stressing that it is the government’s responsibility, and anyone caught would be dismissed from service.
The SUBEB Chairman also warned that any parents that go to assault government teachers for disciplining their wards, would have their child expelled and would never be admitted to any public schools in the state.
He assured the people of Bomadi and Patani that the board would look into the demands to create more schools in the areas to address out-of-school children.
The Local Government chairmen of Bomadi and Patani Local Government Councils, Hon. Dagidi Rawlings and Hon. Isaac Aguanah, respectively, commended the SUBEB board for the reforms, saying it would turn around the school system in primary education.
They promised to reinforce the reforms and implement them to success, pointing out that education remains a priority for people of the areas.
The Education Secretaries of Bomadi and Patani, Mr Kirigha Oburumu and Mr Agboro Okiemute congratulated Chief Mariere and his team on their appointments and achievements, saying it was yielding the desired results.
They appealed for more schools to be established in the localities, provision for desks and chairs for teachers, reclaiming of schools that suffered erosion due to flooding and the installation of solar energy for the schools.
The visit continues.